Fresno City Council Proposes Reverting Cesar Chavez Boulevard Name

City leaders move to change street name back after allegations of sexual assault against civil rights leader

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:18am

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The Fresno City Council held a special meeting to discuss changing the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard following allegations that the civil rights leader sexually assaulted women and young girls. Council members say they will revert to the former street names of California Avenue, Ventura Avenue, and Kings Canyon Road rather than find a new person to name the street after.

Why it matters

The decision to rename the street after Cesar Chavez in 2024 was controversial, with some residents opposing it at the time. Now, in light of the recent allegations, the city is faced with the difficult task of addressing the legacy of Chavez and determining the appropriate course of action for the street name.

The details

The Fresno City Council held a last-minute special meeting to discuss changing the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard following a New York Times report that accused Chavez of sexually assaulting and raping victims during his time as president of the United Farm Workers union. Council members say they will revert to the former street names rather than find a new person to name the street after, citing the need to address the truth, even when it is painful. Long-time Fresno resident Hester Hensley, who opposed the name change in 1993, spoke during public comment, saying the council is now 'righting a wrong' from 30 years ago. Business owners along the road, who just recently changed their addresses, will now have to absorb the cost of changing them again.

  • In 2024, the Fresno City Council named the street Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
  • On March 20, 2026, the Fresno City Council held a special meeting to discuss changing the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard.
  • In 1993, the Fresno mayor at the time thought naming a street after Cesar Chavez was a bad idea.

The players

Fresno City Council

The local government body that oversees the city of Fresno, California and made the decision to rename and now revert the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

Cesar Chavez

The civil rights leader who the street was originally named after, but is now facing allegations of sexual assault and rape during his time as president of the United Farm Workers union.

Annalisa Perea

A Fresno City Council member who supported the original name change but now supports the reversal.

Miguel Arias

A Fresno City Council member who said they were trying to 'right a wrong' from 30 years ago by renaming the street to Cesar Chavez Boulevard in 2024.

Hester Hensley

A long-time Fresno resident who opposed the name change to Cesar Chavez Boulevard in 1993 and is now speaking out against the reversal.

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What they’re saying

“It's heartwrenching to have learned the truth.”

— Annalisa Perea, Fresno City Council member

“Even when the truth is painful, we need it.”

— Miguel Arias, Fresno City Council member

“A lesson learned. It was a very expensive lesson, but we learned.”

— Hester Hensley, Fresno resident

What’s next

City council says they will have at least two more public hearings on the issue before making a final decision on reverting the street name.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the complex legacy of historical figures and the need for cities to carefully consider how to honor individuals, especially in light of serious allegations. The Fresno City Council is grappling with balancing the community's desire to recognize Cesar Chavez's civil rights work with the need to address the allegations of sexual assault against him.