PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Campesinos Boulevard.
The decision follows public scrutiny earlier this year regarding sexual abuse accusations against the late farm workers rights advocate.
In Spanish, “campesinos” translates to “rural farmers” or “farm laborers,” reframing the street’s dedication to the broader agricultural workforce.
Information regarding the timing and implementation of the sign changes has not yet been released.
Councilor Sameer Kanal spoke with FOX 12 about his vote.
“It was not easy to get to this point, but it was the right thing to do,” Kanal said. “And just not in terms of renaming it, I think there was a consensus to move away from the current name, but in terms of where to go and how to best honor not only the community but the movement of farmworkers and eventually landing on Campesinos was a right call.”
Cities around the U.S. and internationally are trying to rename streets, buildings, and holidays named after Cesar Chavez following an investigative report by The New York Times that revealed multiple allegations of sexual abuse and assault against women and minors.
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