San Diego Non-Profits Reimagine Farmworker Day Celebrations

Local organizations shift focus after allegations against César Chávez

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:36pm

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Following allegations of sexual abuse against civil rights leader César Chávez, San Diego non-profits are reimagining how to celebrate and honor farmworkers. The state of California and San Diego County have officially renamed the holiday from 'César Chávez Day' to 'Farmworkers Day', and local organizations like the Chicano Federation and Project New Village are pivoting their celebrations to uplift the broader farmworker movement and its many advocates.

Why it matters

The allegations against Chávez have prompted a reckoning within the farmworker rights movement, leading to changes in how the holiday is recognized and celebrated. This shift highlights the need to acknowledge the full history and diverse leadership within the fight for farmworker justice, rather than centering on a single individual.

The details

State lawmakers in California passed a bill to formally change the name of the holiday from 'César Chávez Day' to 'Farmworkers Day', and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors made a similar move. In the city of San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria issued an executive order to remove Chávez's name from city property and work with the City Council to redesignate March 31 as 'Farmworkers Day'.

  • Last week, state lawmakers passed and Governor Newsom signed a bill to change the name of the holiday.
  • The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to change the name of the holiday following the allegations against Chávez.
  • Mayor Todd Gloria issued an executive order to remove Chávez's name from city property and work to redesignate the holiday as 'Farmworkers Day'.

The players

Liz Ramirez

CEO of the Chicano Federation of San Diego County.

Diane Moss

CEO of Project New Village, a non-profit focused on community-based urban agriculture.

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What they’re saying

“It was important to immediately take action. And so, we are calling it Farm Workers' Day off for our staff. We want input from all of our team, from our leadership, and so we, although we've made those slight changes, we are continuing the conversation; it doesn't stop there. Continuing the conversation to make sure that everybody is heard, that all the team has input, um, and also that we continue to do our work to really fight for safety for women and for children through the work that we do.”

— Liz Ramirez, CEO of the Chicano Federation of San Diego County

“It was not a hard pivot for us. It was a matter of changing documents. It's changing the names, changing the emphasis, but it's still looking at supporting those who came before us in the urban ag, our, our farm worker arena, because it lifts the work that we do and supports values that they should be treated better.”

— Diane Moss, CEO of Project New Village

What’s next

The Chicano Federation will be hosting a day of service this Saturday, while Project New Village is planning a celebration of the farmworker rights movement's legacy on Tuesday at the Mt. Hope Community Garden.

The takeaway

The allegations against César Chávez have prompted a necessary reckoning within the farmworker rights movement, leading to a shift in how the holiday is recognized and celebrated. This change highlights the importance of acknowledging the full history and diverse leadership within the fight for farmworker justice, rather than centering on a single individual.