Celebrations Of Cesar Chavez Canceled As Groups React To 'Disturbing,' 'Indefensible' Abuse Allegations.Organizations and politicians associated with the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez have called recent accusations of sexual misconduct and rape against him "disturbing" and "difficult to comprehend" as several states cancel events meant to honor the icon in his birth month.United Farm Workers, the still-operating farm union Chavez co-founded in the 1960s, called allegations against him "crushing," "disturbing" and "indefensible” and said it would cancel all Cesar Chavez Day events planned for March 31.The Cesar Chavez Foundation, which develops affordable housing and provides educational services to underserved Latino communities in his name, said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” to hear of the allegations, and the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center at San Jose State University said it is “re-envisioning” programming planned to honor him this month.Legislative leaders in California, where much of Chavez’s activism took place, have also spoken out: California state Sen. Monique Limón, who holds the No. 2 role in the chamber, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said in a joint statement the allegations are "devastating" and extended sympathies for “the victims and everyone carrying this pain.”The city of San Antonio has canceled its Cesar E. Chavez march, which has been held annually for almost 30 years, as did Corpus Christi, Texas.A handful of other events in states like Texas, Arizona, California and Michigan have also been canceled, though Cesar Chavez Day is a state holiday in California and will remain a paid day off for state employees.Sacramento, California’s 24th Annual Cesar Chavez March, scheduled for March 28, will go on as scheduled, with organizer Francisco Garcia saying the event “never romanticized the idea of Chavez,” saying the event instead honors the work he did for farm workers.
Big Number
Almost 50. That’s how many schools are named after Chavez in California alone, more than are named for Martin Luther King Jr. There are dozens of other streets, schools, parks and other monuments named for Chavez all over the country. Statues of him stand in San Fernando and Fresno, California, Austin, Texas, Phoenix and Las Vegas, among other places. President Joe Biden displayed a bust of Chavez in the Oval Office of the White House when he was in office. President Barack Obama in 2014 designated March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, a U.S. federal commemorative holiday.
Key Background
Chavez was born a first-generation American and grew up as a migrant farm worker. He worked in fields, orchards and vineyards in California before co-founding the United Farm Workers in 1966 and becoming a leading voice for farm workers' rights in the state. He organized nonviolent protests, strikes and boycotts to demand better pay and safe working conditions, and became a national symbol for civil rights and social justice. This week, more than 30 years after his death, reports have surfaced of Chavez behaving inappropriately with women and minors at the height of his activism. Two women spoke to the New York Times about their stories of sexual abuse, both of whom said they were 12 and 13, respectively, when they were first abused by Chavez. Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded UFW, told the Times she, too, was raped.
Crucial Quote
“Unfortunately, he used some of his great leadership to abuse women and children,” Huerta told the Times. “It’s really awful.”
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