Cal State San Marcos has covered up a Cesar Chavez statue, and workers at Southwestern College removed his name from the exterior of a campus building.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Sexual assault accusations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez have prompted institutional responses across San Diego County. Schools and public agencies have canceled events, covered statues and begun considering name changes for facilities bearing his name.
San Diego Unified School District has not yet decided on renaming its Cesar Chavez Elementary school. The district indicated that community conversations will take place before any decision is made.
Cal State San Marcos has covered a prominent statue of Cesar Chavez positioned atop a staircase leading onto campus, though the words Si Se Puede remain visible below. The university’s president announced plans to convene a campus group to gather input on the statue’s removal and potential replacement.
“They’re doing a very good job at communicating with us – being very intentional with our concerns and thoughts,” said Itsarely Palma, a senior who appreciated the school’s immediate action and commitment to student input.
Cynthia Chavez Metoyer, a political science professor at the university, views the institutional response as an opportunity for meaningful change. She emphasized the importance of supporting sexual violence victims who come forward.
“I hope that it results in systematic change, but at least it’s saying it’s not okay, and we can talk, and we don’t have to carry that intolerable burden for the rest of our lives,” said Chavez Metoyer.
The fallout extends throughout San Diego County, where Cesar Chavez’s name appears on Cesar E Chavez Parkway and in a massive mural at Chicano Park. His legacy has anchored community celebrations for decades.
Southwestern College canceled an annual breakfast and flag-raising ceremony Thursday. Workers have begun removing his name from building exteriors. In Barrio Logan, the Community College District is considering renaming its Cesar E. Chavez Campus.
At the state level, California lawmakers plan to rename Cesar Chavez Day—March 31—to Farmworkers Day.
Despite ongoing changes, Professor Chavez Metoyer emphasized that institutional reckonings do not diminish prior accomplishments.
“This is important social justice work. So it’s huge because the impact of what he led was big, but I want us to keep in mind that the work that was actually done is still there,” said Chavez Metoyer.