BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Just one day after the United Farm Workers Union announced it is pausing Cesar Chavez Day celebrations, the decision is already prompting changes across Kern County.
The union said it made the move after what it called “troubling allegations” against one of its founders, Cesar Chavez.
The union said some of the most serious claims involve alleged abuse of young women or minors, and said the accusations go against its core values.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation said the allegations are “shocking, incredibly disappointing, and deeply painful.”
The foundation added, “The Movement was never about one man – it belonged to the people who built it, and it belongs to the communities we continue to serve today.”
In Bakersfield, the city said it is terminating plans to rename a street after Chavez following the developments.
Local school districts are also responding by pausing celebrations and monitoring the situation.
The Bakersfield City School District and the Kern High School District shared statements saying their priority is keeping campuses safe and welcoming.
At Cesar E. Chavez High School in Delano, a new Change.org petition is calling for the school’s name to be changed.
The petition urges leaders to re-examine school names and symbols, saying they should reflect values that make students feel safe, respected, and inspired.
It adds, “This change would honor and validate the experiences of those who have suffered and survived, ensuring they know the community stands with them.”
Comment with Bubbles
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
At the state level, Sen. Shannon Grove also weighed in on X, encouraging a shift away from Cesar Chavez Day toward broader recognition of farm workers.