City and county leaders are calling on the city to completely strip Cesar Chavez’s name from El Paso.
The backlash to reports of Chavez’s history of alleged sexual abuse has been swift, with El Paso and other cities across the country already calling off the annual Cesar Chavez Day celebration and Gov. Greg Abbott planning to eliminate it across Texas.
But in El Paso, Chavez’s name and likeness are everywhere — from highways and school buildings to murals and community events — and Acevedo believes that needs to change.
Lincoln Park Conservation Committee celebrated Cesar Chavez Day on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at Lincoln Park in South-Central El Paso. The event included a wheela, pedal car, and vicla show, food trucks, vendors, cultural performances and live music.
“The statement from labor leader and pioneer Dolores Huerta, along with other survivors, stopped us all in our tracks and are making us rethink history,” Acevedo said in a news release Thursday, March 19. “I join the community and nation in being shocked and appalled at learning of the allegations against Cesar Chavez and how we must reassess his legacy.”
“After hearing from many members of the community,” he continued, “I am placing an item on the next City Council agenda for consideration to host a series of community listening sessions with the goal of gathering community input for renaming the Border Highway, along with any local policies, holidays, events, and locations that carry the Cesar Chavez name.”
Acevedo is not alone — on Wednesday, March 18, El Paso County Commissioner David Stout issued a similar call.
“I am deeply troubled by the recent allegations and historical accounts of abuse associated with Cesar Chavez,” Stout said in a news release. “The reports of sexual abuse are disturbing and horrific, and they must be acknowledged with honesty and seriousness.”
More: Will YISD consider renaming Cesar Chavez Academy after allegations?
After calling attention to the courage of the women who have spoken out against Chavez and the ongoing efforts of the farm workers movement, Stout said he plans to bring the issue of removing Chavez’s name from public spaces before the El Paso County Commissioners Court.
“I believe our public art, monuments, and the way we represent our history should reflect our community’s values,” he said. “I look forward to discussing this with my colleagues on Commissioners Court and hearing from the public as we consider how our history is represented and what we choose to honor moving forward.”
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso leaders want Cesar Chavez’s name removed completely