The Hispanic Advocates and Business Leaders of Austin said it will no longer hold its annual march celebrating the late farm labor rights leader. <\/p>\n
AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 An annual march honoring late civil rights activist C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez has been cancelled in Austin amid accusations of sexual abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event – organized by the Hispanic Advocates and Business Leaders of Austin (HABLA)- was initially set for Saturday, March 28 at the Terrazas Branch of the Austin Public Library. It will no longer take place “out of an abundance of caution and respect for all parties involved,” HABLA announced Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cancellation comes just one day after the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union stated it would no longer celebrate Ch\u00e1vez’s birthday on March 31 amid “troubling allegations” against the organization’s deceased co-founder.<\/p>\n
The UFW’s statement claimed Ch\u00e1vez -whose pro-farmer activism began in the 1960s- allegedly abused “very young women or girls.” The organization also stated it has not received direct reports from victims.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, the Austin business group said it will search for different ways to support families and find profitable opportunities while in pursuit of justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“For decades, the annual C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez March in Austin has served as a powerful reminder of the values we all fought for — equality, justice, and dignity for all workers,” HABLA co-founder and League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) said in a statement. “While we are deeply disappointed to pause this tradition, our priorities and commitments remain focused on the good and welfare of our community.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
LULAC also issued a statement on Wednesday which read, in part, that it “strongly denounces the actions alleged involving the late Cesar Chavez.”\u00a0<\/p>\n