For nearly three decades, Santa Ana College has housed one of the most iconic murals of the late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, painted by renowned muralist Emigdio Vasquez.
But the day after sexual abuse allegations against Chavez came to light, the school covered up the artwork and plaques bearing his name at the Cesar Chavez Business and Computer Center. Administrators have also begun removing photos of the mural from the community college’s website and social media pages.
Santa Ana College has covered up the name of Cesar Chavez on the Business and Computer Center in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Cesar Cove inside Santa Ana College’s Chavez Business and Computer Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, features murals and artwork honoring the late labor leader and civil rights activist. Allegations that Chavez committed sexual crimes have recently surfaced. Student Andy Diaz, 18, said he was unaware of the controversy.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Ana College used paper to cover up the mural of Cesar Chavez in the “Cesar Cove” located inside Santa Ana College’s Business and Computer Center in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Santa Ana College has covered up the name of Cesar Chavez on the Business and Computer Center in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Marilyn Mendoza scans her phone as she sits under a portrait by OC artist Emigdio Vasquez. She was inside the Cesar Chavez Business and Computer Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Santa Ana College has covered up the name of Cesar Chavez on the Business and Computer Center in Santa Ana on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Long-term decisions about the mural and the building’s name will be discussed at a Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 23, which will be open to the public, the school’s leadership said.
“Santa Ana College stands in solidarity with our community, nuestra comunidad,” college President Annebelle Nery said in a statement. “Understandably, this moment has evoked a wide range of emotions within our campus community, including grief, trauma, confusion, anger and, for some, a profound sense of betrayal.”
A stunning New York Times report published Wednesday alleged Chavez raped Dolores Huerta, his longtime collaborator and United Farm Workers cofounder, and sexually assaulted female followers as young as 12 during the 1970s. The revelations have sent shockwaves across Southern California, where many streets, parks and schools, as well as a public holiday, are dedicated to Chavez, whose name has been synonymous with the farmworker and Latino civil rights movement.
Fallout has been swift and sweeping, with local officials throughout the region’s counties canceling Cesar Chavez Day events and pledging to remove his name from public spaces.
“We recognize the courage of Dolores Huerta in sharing her truth,” Nery said. “We stand with her, and with every survivor who has come forward or who keeps their experiences in silence. Their example calls on all of us not only to persevere, but to act with accountability.”
Santa Ana Unified School District board members will review and consider the renaming of César Chávez High School, which opened in 1994, at their meeting on Tuesday, March 24, according to a statement released Thursday from President Katelyn Brazer Aceves.
“Addressing community concerns involving the school that bears Cesar Chavez’s name remains a top priority for the superintendent and Board of Education, and this matter is being approached with care and responsibility,” Aceves said. “We also acknowledge the women who have come forward and recognize the courage it takes to share their experiences, particularly when they involve a widely respected and influential civil rights figure.”
Aceves said any renaming process will include “meaningful community input and engagement with students, families, and educational partners, and any steps taken moving forward will follow this approach.”
Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Councilmember Jessie Lopez both said in social media posts on Wednesday that they will be raising the question of renaming the city’s Cesar Chavez Campesino Park on West 5th Street at the City Council’s next meeting on April 7.