FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — What was once known as Cesar Chavez Day has officially become Farmworkers and Agriculture Appreciation Day in Fresno County, and Farmworkers Day across the state of California.
The name change follows nationwide outrage over allegations of sexual abuse made against the late labor leader Cesar Chavez by several women, most notably United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta.
Nisei Farmers League president Manuel Cunha has looked forward to celebrating under the new title, telling Action News the new name shines the spotlight on the right people.
“Those people worked hard, even back then, in the 60s and 70s, it’s been all along,” Cunha said. “There was never any day for that at all; that was all thrown under the rug, and it was strictly the movement of Cesar Chavez.”
California first established March 31st, Chavez’s birthday, as a state holiday in the year 2000.
President Barack Obama would later proclaim it a federal holiday in 2014.
Now, Cunha hopes this name change will prompt new legislative action, calling on Congress to revisit the Dignity Act, introduced in 2025.
“Give these people now what they deserve, the dignity and respect of giving them a legal work card,” Cunha said.
The bipartisan proposal aims to increase border security and create a legal, earned pathway for undocumented immigrants.
“Those people deserve it. They do not have to wake up every morning knowing if they’re driving to work, to a construction site, to the fields that they might get arrested and not see their family that night,” Cunha added.
Celebrations are typically expected throughout the Central Valley, but in light of the allegations, some have expressed hesitation about participating.
Huron mayor Rey Leon is encouraging those in his community and everywhere else to look beyond the individual and instead appreciate those who embody the movement.
“This celebration, we continue to celebrate the farm worker struggle. Continue to recognize the dignity in the farm workers, in our families, because without us farm workers, the country does not eat,” the mayor said.
And like Cunha, Mayor Leon hopes this recognition also brings action.
“We need to invest in farm workers and the families that make it possible that our county becomes a number one ag revenue county in the world,” he said.
Copyright © 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.