SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Work is underway to remove the likeness of farm labor leader Cesar Chavez from schools and other buildings in the Bay Area and California. All in the wake of disturbing abuse allegations from victims, including Dolores Huerta who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Chavez.
Longtime San Francisco musician Richard Segovia’s house in the Mission is covered with faces, tributes to Latin rock legends and activists, like Cesar Chavez.
“I said, get over here, let’s remove him,” said Segovia.
Segovia’s wasted no time painting over Chavez mural this week, after sexual abuse allegations against the iconic labor leader came to light from victims.
“Right now the urgency is to get him off the wall,” said artist Carlos Gonzalez.
MORE: Cesar Chavez allegations highlight why sexual assault survivors often stay silent
Gonzalez knew he had to help Richard out.
“Some people say it’s cancel culture, give him a break, he’s been dead for 33 years but you know, you have to listen to the victims,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzales, is now replacing Chavez with with a portrait of late San Francisco bandleader Camalito Valez.
“Carmalito was a big part of my career when i got into music playing Santana cover songs,”
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Gonzales painted this mural of Chavez at San Francisco State in 1994 which will soon be removed.
“They contacted me about covering,” I’ll be in talks who we’ll replace him with, maybe Dolores Huerta,” said Gonzalez.
“I was really sad,” said Andrew Kong Knight.
MORE: Dolores Huerta opens up about Cesar Chavez abuse allegations: ‘It was very hard to keep this’
Hayward Artist Andrew Kong Knight says he plans to stop working on mural sketch of Chavez depicted as a superhero. He started it two years ago, hoping to install it in his hometown of Union City.
“In Union City, they have metal boxes along the highway so i was proposing the sketch of Chave on the boxes, now I’m going in a different route, obviously,” said Knight.
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