The allegations that the late Cesar Chavez sexually abused two underage girls and raped fellow labor icon Dolores Huerta in the 1960s have shaken the Bay Area. The region has honored Chavez for decades: Schools, parks, libraries, and works of art bear his name and likeness. Now, institutions must reckon with whether to distance themselves from his legacy.
State and Bay Area leaders have voiced support for renaming Cesar Chavez Day, which falls each year on March 31. Organizers of the annual Cesar Chavez San Francisco breakfast and parade (opens in new tab), scheduled for March 31 and April 11, respectively, have already changed the name of both events to honor Huerta instead. But removing Chavez’s name and image from buildings and public squares will likely take longer and involve more discussion.
San Francisco
Many sites honoring Chavez, including an elementary school and a major street, are in the Mission.
Supervisor Jackie Fielder said her office will support community efforts to remove the name from any institutions in the district, including Cesar Chavez Street.
“I believe, and stand fully behind, the survivors of Cesar Chavez’s reported horrifying abuse, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Dolores Huerta,” Fielder said. “It is devastating to think of the decades of pain they endured while the world and our movements unwittingly celebrated their abuser.”
The San Francisco Unified School District declined to comment on whether it would rename Cesar Chavez Elementary School. | Source: Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images
At San Francisco State University, officials noted that the Cesar Chavez Student Center — renamed in 1994 after a student-led effort — is operated by an independent nonprofit auxiliary. The officials would not comment on whether they would explore changing the name but said the university “recognizes the concern these reports may cause.”
SFSU “is committed to thoughtful dialogue around complex historical legacies while continuing to foster an inclusive and supportive campus environment,” the school said.
San Francisco State Unviersity’s student center was named after the late labor leader in 1994. | Source: Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images
The San Francisco Unified School District declined to comment on whether it would rename Cesar Chavez Elementary School and said it is “focused on student outcomes.”
Enrique Gomez, who handles sales and parts orders at Cesar Chavez Auto Service in the Mission, declined to comment on the allegations but said the garage at 3300 Cesar Chavez St. isn’t named for the late labor leader.
“It’s named after the road, not the person,” Gomez said.
San Jose
In San Jose, which has at least six public artworks and sites named after Chavez, leaders pledged to explore removing his name from city properties.
Mayor Matt Mahan said he was “deeply troubled” by the allegations and emphasized the need to focus on survivors. The city has canceled events tied to Cesar Chavez Day. Mahan and City Council members plan to launch a review of sites, monuments, and other public assets bearing Chavez’s name and work with community members to recognize the farmworker movement without further harming those who were allegedly abused.
“As the full scope of these allegations is investigated, we recognize that Chavez’s ties to San Jose come with a responsibility to ensure we are not further traumatizing survivors,” he said.
The California State University, which includes San Jose State University, signaled that a review is underway but stopped short of announcing immediate changes. A wide promenade, Paseo de César Chávez, runs through the university, and a monument, the Arch of Dignity, honors him. The university removed Chavez’s name from a webpage (opens in new tab) about the arch after being contacted by The Standard.
The Arch of Dignity at San Jose State University honors Chavez. | Source: Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
In a statement, CSU officials said they were “deeply troubled” by the allegations and acknowledged that Chavez’s legacy is reflected in buildings, murals, and other memorials across campuses.
“The CSU is firmly committed to fostering university environments centered on respect, integrity, and the safety and dignity of all members of our campus communities,” officials said. “We are carefully reviewing this information and considering appropriate courses of action.”
Oakland
Oakland officials said the city will remove Cesar Chavez’s name from its upcoming “Leading with Service Week,” while broader decisions about renaming public spaces will be left to the City Council. Oakland has a public park, library, and school named after Chavez.
Administrator Jestin Johnson said that while Oakland will move forward with the service week under a new name, it will continue to observe March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, which is a paid holiday for city employees.
Johnson said the council is responsible for deciding whether to rename public spaces, and it’s “too early” to know whether it will do so.
“These developments raise important questions about city facilities bearing Cesar Chavez’s name,” he said.
Berkeley
Representatives of UC Berkeley, which houses the Cesar E. Chavez Student Center, did not commit to renaming the student center when asked. A spokesperson said the university has a committee (opens in new tab) responsible for evaluating building names when new information comes to light.
“We have used this process multiple times over the years,” he said in an email.
A spokesperson for the Berkeley city manager’s office said officials will discuss “next steps” but did not say whether the waterfront park honoring Chavez would be renamed.
Hayward, Union City
When asked whether it would rename the Cesar Chavez Middle School, a representative of the Hayward Unified School District cited the “serious and disturbing revelation.”
“Recognizing the gravity and far-reaching impact of this news, we have begun to evaluate how to respond,” the spokesperson said.
In nearby Union City, Superintendent John Thompson said the New Haven School District is “evaluating next steps” regarding Cesar Chavez Middle School and activities related to Cesar Chavez Day.
“As we continue to gather information, we will proceed thoughtfully and in alignment with our district values,” he said.