State officials who represent San Francisco said they would like to see California’s Cesar Chavez Day renamed in light of sexual abuse allegations made against the late labor leader.
An investigation (opens in new tab) published Wednesday in The New York Times caused upheaval as political and labor leaders grappled with the accusations, including Dolores Huerta’s claim that Chavez raped her in 1966. Two women said they were molested or raped as children by Chavez.
“It is time to rename this holiday,” said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, a former District 2 supervisor who represents San Francisco’s western half in the state Legislature. Stefani, who has made public safety for women a legislative priority and has spoken publicly about her stepfather’s abuse of her mother, said survivors “deserve to be heard, believed, and supported.”
“Their stories matter, no matter how much time has passed and no matter who the allegations involve,” she said. “This moment is not about rewriting history. It is about telling the full truth.”
Several of Stefani’s colleagues joined her in calling for a change to the March 31 holiday. Cesar Chavez Day was created in 2000 through legislation authored by former state Sen. Richard Polanco and signed into law by former Gov. Gray Davis.
A change of the holiday’s name would require state legislation.
“I know there’s a lot of heartbreak and pain across the state to this news, including among legislators, and concern for the victims,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney, whose district includes San Francisco’s eastern half. “I would support renaming March 31 as Dolores Huerta Day.”
Supervisor Jackie Fielder, whose district includes the Mission, which is predominantly Latino, says she would strike Chavez’s name from institutions. | Source: Manuel Orbegozo for The Standard
State Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, said he would like to gauge the Latino community’s opinion on changing the name of the holiday but supports renaming it after Huerta.
At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he too is open to changing the holiday.
“If we need to move, we’ll do so together,” said Newsom. “We’ll talk to the caucuses. There are already conversations at the staff level, and you can imagine [in] Sacramento, those are robust right now.”
In San Francisco, others are calling for Chavez’s name to be stricken from city sites.
Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who represents the Mission, which is predominantly Latino, said she supports removing Chavez’s name from “any District 9 institutions.” Cesar Chavez Elementary School on Shotwell Street is within Fielder’s district.
The district also includes Cesar Chavez Street, which runs from Diamond Heights in the west to Pier 80 in the east. Its name was changed from Army Street in 1995 in honor of the labor leader.
Fielder’s office confirmed that her call for removing Chavez’s name would include renaming the street.