LA County, LAUSD taking first step in erasing César Chávez

Proposals seek to rename county holiday, schools, and remove Chávez's name from public spaces

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:23am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and the LA Board of Education are expected to take the first step in erasing César Chávez's name from a number of monuments, schools and programs after the civil rights icon was accused of abusing girls and women, including his labor activist colleague Dolores Huerta. The proposals seek to rename the county holiday from César Chávez Day to Farmer Workers Day, as well as rename parks, streets, county facilities, monuments and county programs that were named after Chávez while also scrubbing his face off from civil artworks.

Why it matters

The revelations of abuse involving Chávez have deeply shaken Los Angeles County, prompting officials to take action to remove his name from public spaces and commemorate the farmworker movement in a way that confronts the difficult truths about Chávez's actions.

The details

The supervisors will consider a motion introduced by Supervisor Hilda Solis to establish a "community-driven process" to rename the county holiday, while the LAUSD Board of Education will decide whether to start an "expedited process" to rename the César Chávez Learning Academies and César Chávez Elementary School. The proposals also call for celebrating March 31 as Farm Workers Day and ensuring counseling and resources are available at LAUSD schools.

  • The LA County Board of Supervisors and the LAUSD Board of Education will consider the proposals on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
  • Los Angeles officials are already working on removing César Chávez's name from streets, monuments and a holiday.
  • Other cities and schools have also begun the process of erasing Chávez, with the city of San Fernando removing a statue and covering murals last week, and César Chávez Middle School in San Bernardino covering signage and a mural.

The players

Hilda Solis

Supervisor on the LA County Board of Supervisors who introduced the motion to establish a community-driven process to rename the county holiday from César Chávez Day to Farmer Workers Day.

Dolores Huerta

Civil rights activist and labor leader who accused César Chávez of abusing girls and women.

Rocia Rivas

Member of the LAUSD Board of Education who proposed an expedited process to rename the César Chávez Learning Academies and César Chávez Elementary School.

Kelly Gonez

Member of the LAUSD Board of Education who proposed an expedited process to rename the César Chávez Learning Academies and César Chávez Elementary School.

Andrés E. Chait

Acting Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District who will review curriculum and resources related to Chávez.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Los Angeles County is deeply shaken by the abuse involving Cesar Chavez, including the horrific account shared by Dolores Huerta and other survivors. As the County reckons with these revelations, it must take thoughtful, deliberate action guided by community and labor. The County can continue to honor the farmworker movement and its enduring contributions while confronting difficult truths.”

— Hilda Solis, Supervisor, LA County Board of Supervisors

“This news has rightfully prompted immediate action at the state and local levels to reconsider how to properly commemorate this history and ensure that abusers are not celebrated, including renaming streets and other public spaces. It is essential that students engage with complex and accurate histories, including the contributions of Latino/a/x leaders and movements, while also confronting harm and injustice with honesty and integrity.”

— Rocia Rivas, Member, LAUSD Board of Education

What’s next

If approved, LA County officials will have to come up with the renaming process and implementation plans within three weeks.

The takeaway

The revelations about César Chávez's abusive behavior have prompted a reckoning in Los Angeles, where officials are taking steps to remove his name from public spaces and find ways to commemorate the farmworker movement that confront the difficult truths about Chávez's actions. This reflects a broader trend of re-evaluating the legacies of historical figures in light of new information about their conduct.