Dallas City Council members propose the removal of Cesar Chavez’s name from city proclamations and city streets.

DALLAS — Cities and organizations across Texas and the United States are canceling events meant to honor Cesar Chavez after multiple allegations surfaced more than 30 years after his death of sexual assaults during his time as a farmworkers rights leader.  And Dallas is among the cities considering removal of his name from proclamations, schools, and city streets.

“I am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,” Dolores Huerta wrote on the Dolores Huerta Foundation website.  Huerta fought alongside Chavez for decades to improve the lives of farmworkers. Now she says Chavez sexually assaulted her twice, each time leading to pregnancies: children she says who were eventually raised by other families.

“I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor — of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control,” she writes, admitting that she is telling her story because an investigation by the New York times alleges she was not the only victim. 

“The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. Cesar’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement.”

“I want to thank Dolores for her, strength and courage to be a voice for other survivors out there,” said Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua. In a letter to Mayor Eric Johnson, also signed by council members Jesse Moreno, Laura Cadena, Paula Blackmon, Jaime Resendez, and Gay Donnell Willis, they ask that the city reconsider its March 31st designation as Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day: that his name be removed and that a broader discussion begin on the re-naming of Cesar Chavez Boulevard in downtown Dallas.

“But we need to do so thoughtfully in a way that can uplift the movement of labor, migrant workers and the Latino community as a whole,” Bazaldua said.

In a statement to WFAA, the City of Dallas says “the Dallas City Manager will work with the Dallas City Council on their decision to review the Cesar Chavez/Labor Day holiday. City staff will continue to monitor developments and support City Council members on whatever decision they make.”

In Texas, Cesar Chavez Day, March 31st, is considered an optional holiday. On Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott announced “the State of Texas will not observe the Cesar Chavez Day holiday” and that he is directing all Texas state agency heads to comply and that he will work to remove Cesar Chavez Day from state law altogether.

Events in multiple Texas cities have already been canceled or renamed. In El Paso, March 31st, Chavez’ birthday, has historically been observed as César Chávez Day. City leaders say it will be observed this year as Community & Labor Heritage Day.

Tuesday night, the group known as the Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County announced it was rebranding the name of the organization to the Si Se Puede Committee of Tarrant County.

“We are heartbroken to hear of the sexual abuse and violence that Dolores Huerta and other women sharing their experiences had at the hands of César Chávez,” the group said in a statement posted online. “We take these allegations seriously and will take time to process, reflect, and determine all of our next steps. We hope that, as an organization, we can create a safe space and serve as a resource for the community. “

“In 2025, we intentionally decided to include Dolores Huerta’s name in our committee name. For too long, women’s leadership in the farmworker and civil rights movements has been erased, minimized, or overlooked. Dolores Huerta is a visionary organizer in her own right, yet historically, her contributions often remain in the shadows. We now know she is also a survivor. We believe justice requires accountability—and representation.” You can read the entire statement here.

“It’s been hard to absorb this,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom who counts Dolores Huerta as a family friend. He says next steps will be difficult and carefully considered in a state where Chavez’s burial site is a national monument and where statues of him stand in multiple cities.

“We’re going to have to reflect on all of that and a farm workers movement that was much bigger than one man and celebrate that,” Newsom said.

In statement issued Tuesday, the Cesar Chavez Foundation said “we are deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing. The Foundation is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to be responsive to these allegations, support the people who may have been harmed by his actions, and ensure we are united and guided by our commitment to justice and community empowerment.”

Events scheduled on or near Chavez’s birthday have been canceled in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.