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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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California officials announced Thursday that César Chavez Day will be renamed, following allegations of sexual abuse by the late labor rights movement leader.
Revelations about Chavez's abuse of girls and young women in the 1970s came as a result of a New York Times investigation. Latino leaders and politicians quickly condemned the alleged abuse, with California Governor Gavin Newsom telling reporters it had been hard to absorb the news.
In an announcement Thursday, legislative leaders said the March holiday would be renamed Farmworkers Day.
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California observes the holiday as a paid day off, and the state is home to multiple schools named after Chavez, as well as memorials to his work pushing for greater rights for farmworkers.
Around the U.S, Cesar Chavez Day events have been canceled, following the accusations.
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What is César Chavez Accused of?
The New York Times first reported Wednesday that it found Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement he led.
Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Chavez that later became the United Farm Workers of America, revealed to the newspaper that she was a victim of Chavez's abuse when she was in her 30s, saying later that she had remained silent for decades out of fear her words would hurt the farmworker movement.
Some of the alleged abuse occurred in California’s Central Valley, including Delano, where Chavez was based while leading what became the United Farm Workers union. One account placed an alleged assault in a secluded grape field near Delano in the mid‑1960s, while other alleged abuse was described as occurring over several years during the 1970s.
In response, United Farm Workers acknowledged the existence of what it described as "deeply troubling allegations" against its co‑founder.
What is César Chavez Day and When Was It Established?
Several states recognize a day on or near Chavez’s March 31 birthday as an annual holiday, including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas, Utah and Washington. In 2014, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, although the day isn’t a paid holiday for federal workers.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday that Texas would not observe Cesar Chavez Day this year, and that he was directing all state agency heads to comply with the change. He also said he would work with legislators to remove the holiday from state law in the upcoming legislative session.
The Republican governor wrote on X that the reports of the allegations against Chavez "rightfully dismantle the myth of this progressive hero and undermine the narrative that elevated Chavez as a figure worthy of official state celebration."
In Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said the state will not recognize March 31 as César Chavez Day this year. While it is not a state holiday in Arizona, some municipalities recognize it, closing schools or government offices.
In Phoenix, the city council is set to vote next week on whether to rename the March 31 holiday, as well as city buildings and streets that bear Chavez’s name. Mayor Kate Gallego and two city council members want the holiday to be renamed Farmworkers Day.
"We have a duty to honor the dignity of the survivors and move forward in a way that reflects our values," Gallego said.
What is César Chavez Known For?
The revelations about Chavez's alleged abuse cast a shadow over his legacy as a civil and labor rights leader.
Chavez rose to national prominence in the 1960s, and is known for his early organizing work in the fields, a hunger strike, a grape boycott, and his eventual victory in getting growers to negotiate with farmworkers for better wages and working conditions. In 1962, Chavez and Dolores Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which became the United Farm Workers of America.
Chavez died in California in 1993 at age 66. Since then, streets, schools and parks have been renamed in his honor.
Update 3/19/26, 1:34 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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