The efforts by the city come after allegations of sexual abuse by Chavez over the years.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth officials are working to remove signs in the city commemorating the late civil rights icon, Cesar Chavez. This comes after Chavez was accused of sexually abusing women and children during his time as a labor leader.
Officials with the city removed honorary street sign toppers that bore the activist’s name off Northeast 28th Street. They are also evaluating other tributes to Chavez, including the honorary designation of Texas 183 and the annual Cesar Chavez march.
“Accountability matters, and that’s what we’re taking steps toward,” Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Flores said during a press conference Thursday, March 19.
The recent allegations come amid a New York Times story, as well as statements from Dolores Huerta who fought alongside Chavez for decades to improve the lives of farm workers.
Huerta shared the allegations in a statement on the Dolores Huerta Foundation website.
“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,” the statement read.
Huerta claims she was sexually abused by Chavez, leading to pregnancies. The children were eventually raised by other families, the statement said.
“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,” the statement continued.