- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Burbank Residents Call for Dolores Huerta Middle School Name Change
Letter to the Editor argues school should not honor activist linked to Cesar Chavez sexual abuse allegations
Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:22pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A Burbank resident has written a letter to the editor calling for the Dolores Huerta Middle School to be renamed, arguing that the school should not honor an activist associated with the sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez. The letter writer claims Huerta must have known about the abuse for years while working alongside Chavez, and that the school district cannot properly celebrate Huerta's legacy without also addressing the disturbing allegations against her longtime colleague.
Why it matters
The letter raises complex questions about how to properly honor historical figures when new information comes to light about their associations with wrongdoing. It also highlights the challenges school districts face in navigating politically charged name changes and the competing priorities of acknowledging both an individual's achievements and the full context of their life and work.
The details
In the letter, Betty Vanole argues the Burbank Unified School District should change the name of Dolores Huerta Middle School. Vanole claims the school should not have been named after a living person in the first place, and that Huerta's long-time work alongside Cesar Chavez means she must have known about the sexual abuse allegations against him involving minors, which only recently became public. Vanole suggests the district cannot properly celebrate Huerta's activism without also addressing the disturbing allegations against Chavez.
- The New York Times broke the story about the sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez in 2026.
- Dolores Huerta Middle School in Burbank, California was named after the activist at an unspecified prior date.
The players
Dolores Huerta
A prominent labor activist who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association (later the United Farm Workers) alongside Cesar Chavez.
Cesar Chavez
A labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association (later the United Farm Workers) with Dolores Huerta. He has recently been accused of sexually abusing minors.
Betty Vanole
A Burbank resident who wrote a letter to the editor calling for the Dolores Huerta Middle School to be renamed.
Burbank Unified School District
The school district in Burbank, California that named a middle school after Dolores Huerta.
What they’re saying
“I believe our middle school named Dolores Huerta needs to get a name change.”
— Betty Vanole, Burbank Resident
“How can the Burbank Unified School District honor Ms. Huerta in April without mentioning Cesar Chavez? She did not work alone for the farm workers.”
— Betty Vanole, Burbank Resident
What’s next
The Burbank Unified School District has not yet indicated whether it will consider renaming Dolores Huerta Middle School in light of the recent allegations against her longtime colleague Cesar Chavez.
The takeaway
This letter highlights the complex challenges school districts face in properly honoring historical figures when new information emerges about their associations with wrongdoing. It raises important questions about how to balance an individual's achievements with the full context of their life and work.
