The annual march was scheduled for March 28. An organizer said it is “a wise thing to do” amid the allegations.

HOUSTON — This year’s César Chávez march in Houston has been canceled, according to event organizers.

They said they made the decision to cancel the event due to allegations that have recently been reported by The New York Times.

Organizers said canceling the event was “a wise thing to do.”

RELATED: Unspecified allegations against labor rights icon Cesar Chavez lead to cancellation of celebrations

The march was scheduled to be held on March 28 at noon, starting on Cesar Chavez Boulevard in Houston’s East End. In addition to the street, there is also a high school named after the prominent Latino labor activist.

Normally, organizers said about 40 people march, but this year they expected fewer due to other events happening at the same time, such as the No Kings marches.


The NYT article exposed allegations that Chávez sexually assaulted minors. The report, released on Wednesday, claimed at least two women said they were sexually assaulted by Chávez when they were minors.

In a statement released Wednesday, labor rights leader Dolores Huerta said she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker movement. Huerta described two sexual encounters with Chavez, one where she was “manipulated and pressured” and another where she was “forced against my will.”

“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was life’s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn’t going to let Cesar or anyone else get in the way.”

Huerta said she did not know that Chavez hurt other women and condemned his actions, but reminded readers that the farmworker movement is bigger than one person.

Several events celebrating Chávez have been canceled across Texas in advance of and after the NYT report was released. Other states are also actively discussing changing events and streets that have been named in his honor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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