Chavez Allegation Reactions

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is supporting a proposal to rename César Chavez Day following stunning abuse allegations against the revered labor leader. Newsom said Thursday he will move quickly on legislation if it passes to rename March 31 as Farmworkers Day. Political leaders in states and cities are considering similar moves after the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union and others alleged Chavez sexually abused them. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office says he won’t issue a proclamation honoring César Chavez Day this year. There also are calls to alter memorials honoring the man who helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers.

Within hours of explosive sexual abuse allegations against labor leader César Chavez, officials at a California university took swift action and covered a statue of him. It is one of scores of monuments, city streets and schools nationwide that honor Chavez’s name and his labor movement legacy. Overnight, his name has become more of a stain. Some of the institutions and local governments started the process Thursday of erasing it. Officials in various cities are also moving to rename César Chavez Day, a federally proclaimed holiday on March 31, his birthday. The New York Times first reported Wednesday that it found credible evidence that Chavez sexually abused young girls.