![\"Labor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/9-03252013-20000442A.jpg\" "\\"Labor")
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Labor leader Cesar Chavez calls for legislative action at the state Capitol on May 4, 1979.<\/p>\n
LEO NEIBAUR<\/p>\n
Sacramento Bee file<\/p>\n
Sacramento will hold its annual Cesar Chavez march later this month, even as several cities across the country canceled similar events following abuse allegations involving the iconic Chicano leader that surfaced this week.<\/p>\n
The California-based labor union United Farm Workers, which Chavez helped found, said in a statement Tuesday that it learned of \u201cdeeply troubling allegations\u201d involving the abuse of young women or minors. The union did not provide details but said it had not received reports firsthand. Several news outlets reported Tuesday that a large investigation is expected to be published in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
The announcement came two weeks before Cesar Chavez Day, observed March 31. The day has been a state holiday in California since 2000 and a federal commemorative holiday since 2014. The UFW said it would not participate in any Cesar Chavez Day activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese allegations have been profoundly shocking,\u201d the union said. \u201cWe need some time to get this right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chavez is a revered figure in California history and among the U.S. Latino community. He rose to national prominence in the 1960s for organizing farmworkers and highlighting the struggles of agricultural laborers who earned low wages and lived in substandard conditions.<\/p>\n
The UFW flag, which shows a black Aztec eagle on a red background, became synonymous with the Chicano movement. Schools, parks and streets were renamed in Chavez\u2019s honor after his death in 1993. Sacramento renamed a plaza in downtown for Chavez<\/a> in 1997.<\/a><\/p>\n A 1983 poll by the Los Angeles Times found Chavez to be the most admired leader of Latinos.<\/a> The UFW flag remains in use in social justice movements, including among younger Latinos unfamiliar with its origins.<\/p>\n The 24th annual Sacramento Cesar Chavez March<\/a> remains scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, organizer Carlos Padilla said Tuesday. In recent weeks, multiple events nationwide \u2014 including in Tucson, Arizona; Houston; and San Antonio, Texas \u2014 were canceled, often without explanation, according to The Los Angeles Times<\/a>. Additional cancellations were announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n Francisco Garcia, who served as the march\u2019s main organizer for 15 years, said the march has never focused entirely on Chavez, despite its name.<\/p>\n \u201cWe never romanticized the idea of Chavez,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cWe honored the work that he did in the past with the farm workers, but we were more about today, more about the struggle of our people.\u201d<\/p>\n Padilla said the labor union coalition organizing the march would meet Wednesday to discuss a potential \u201crebrand\u201d of the event. He echoed Garcia and said the march is largely centered on worker and immigrant rights.<\/p>\n Padilla encouraged capital residents to join in uplifting the \u201cworking family struggle\u201d particularly given what he described as increased \u201cattacks on the Chicano and Mexican community\u201d by immigration enforcement officials.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t allow any distractions away from that actual fight,\u201d Padilla said. \u201cThe fight that happened in the fields years ago, is still going on today, which is why we say the struggle continues. La lucha sigue because we\u2019re still in this fight for our dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 3:48 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n