César Chávez events renamed after abuse allegations
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César Chávez in 1986. Photo: Mark Junge/Getty Images
New abuse allegations against César Chávez are forcing cities and organizations to reconsider how or whether to continue planned celebrations of the late United Farm Workers (UFW) co-founder.
The big picture: The allegations raise serious concerns about harm possibly done to women and minors, and threaten to tarnish the legacy of Chávez, one of the most celebrated Latino labor leaders in U.S. history.
State of play: El Mirage will rename its April 4 Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service event as the "Inaugural El Mirage Day of Service," the city announced.
- The Tucson City Council removed a proclamation from its Tuesday agenda to declare March 31, the labor leader's birthday, as César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Day, the Tucson Sentinel reported.
- The César Chávez + Dolores Huerta Holiday Coalition in Tucson renamed its César Chávez and Dolores Huerta March and Rally on Saturday to the Comunidad y Unity Labor Fair, per the group's Facebook page.
- Chandler still plans to host "Noche Iluminada: A Tribute to César Chávez" on Friday. In a statement, the city said the event "honors our community's tradition of coming together in service and support," but that it respects efforts to address the recent allegations.
Zoom in: Phoenix and Tempe recognize March 31 as César Chávez Day, a paid city holiday. In 2024, Gov. Katie Hobbs proclaimed the day a state holiday.
- Todd Zubatkin, a spokesperson for Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, said in a statement to Axios that she's aware of the allegations and "will follow the lead of [UFW] and will not participate in events to mark the holiday in his honor."
- Tempe spokesperson Kris Baxter said in a statement that the city was "saddened by the allegations" but that the holiday honors "the broader legacy of the farmworker movement and the ongoing pursuit of dignity and fair treatment for all workers.
- The Arizona governor's office won't recognize the holiday this year, spokesperson Liliana Soto told Axios.
What they're saying: UFW said in a statement it has no firsthand knowledge of the allegations but that they are "incompatible with our organization's values."
- The union said it felt "compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized to find support and to share their stories."
Flashback: Chávez was born in Yuma and rose to national prominence in the 1960s, organizing strikes for better living standards and pay for farm workers.
- Since his 1993 death, streets, parks and schools in major American cities, particularly in the Southwest, have been named or renamed in his honor.
What we're watching: Phoenix has a community center, library, dog park and plaza named after Chávez. A city spokesperson said there haven't been any conversations yet about renaming them.