California lawmakers push to strip Cesar Chavez's name from state holiday

[sheshe2]

SACRAMENTO, California — California Latino legislative leaders are pushing to strip Cesar Chavez’s name from the official state holiday honoring his birthday following the sexual abuse allegations leveled against him, the highest-profile in a rush of efforts to remove his name from parks, public buildings and commemorations across the state.

Latino Legislative Caucus chair Lena Gonzalez on Wednesday told reporters that lawmakers will pursue a name change, though she did not suggest an alternative or lay out a timeline, saying “there’s going to be a short- and a long-term process.” California annually celebrates Chavez, the United Farm Workers labor union co-founder and Latino civil rights organizer.

snip/

Latino Caucus members huddled in the state Capitol following the publication of a New York Times report in which two women alleged Chavez sexually abused them as girls. Chavez’s labor movement partner, Dolores Huerta, also accused him of twice raping her, resulting in two children she sent to be raised by other families.

The caucus — which includes Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón — will shift the focus of celebrations away from Chavez and toward the success of the farmworker movement instead, Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez told POLITICO.

More: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/18/california-chavez-rename-00835436?utm_medium=activitypub&utm_source=flipboard
.........................

[Stargleamer]

1. They should make June 19th a State Holiday instead

so we still get to keep a state holiday

[hardluck]

2. Make it Dolores Huerta Day

That would work.

[LogDog75]

3. If the allegations are true then rename the holiday for someone else or to honor something else

Since Chavez fought for the farm workers perhaps renaming it after California Agriculture, which would honor farm workers and farms. California is the largest agricultural state in the nation and it would be fitting to honor those who produce our food.

[UTUSN]

4. K&R