Efforts to Rebrand César Chávez Day Fueled by Emotion and Duty

From California to Minnesota, leaders and groups work to distance themselves from allegations of sexual abuse against the civil rights leader

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A close-up painting of a farmworker's calloused hand holding a picket sign, bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying the conflicted emotions and sense of duty surrounding efforts to commemorate César Chávez's legacy.As communities grapple with the legacy of César Chávez, a solitary farmworker's hand holds a sign reflecting the complex emotions and duty to honor the broader labor movement.El Paso Today

Across the United States, elected officials and civil rights organizations are swiftly rebranding events and locations named after César Chávez in the wake of allegations that he sexually abused women and girls during the 1960s as he became the face of the farmworkers' movement. The resulting conversations have been anything but easy as supporters grapple with conflicted feelings while sorting out how best to honor the pivotal labor and civil rights efforts Chávez led.

Why it matters

The allegations against Chávez have sparked a reckoning over how to commemorate his legacy, with some calling for the removal of his name from holidays, schools, and other public spaces, while others argue the movement he led is bigger than one individual and should continue to be recognized.

The details

From California to Minnesota, efforts have been made to rebrand events and locations ahead of what was typically César Chávez Day on March 31. In Tucson, Arizona, last weekend's celebration was billed as a community and labor fair, while in Grand Junction, Colorado, it's now the Sí, Se Puede Celebration. El Paso, Texas, will mark Tuesday as Community and Labor Heritage Day. Lawmakers in Minnesota voted to end the César Chávez holiday, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to rename it as Farmworkers Day. In Colorado, lawmakers were considering a similar bill to rename the state holiday.

  • The New York Times recently reported on the allegations of sexual abuse against César Chávez.
  • Chávez's birthday is March 31, which was previously celebrated as César Chávez Day.

The players

José Luis Chávez

Founder and president of the committee that has organized the César Chávez Celebration for Mesa County, Colorado, for the past decade. He is not related to the civil rights leader.

Dolores Huerta

Co-founder of the movement and a victim of the alleged sexual abuse by César Chávez.

Sehila Mota Casper

Executive director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, who says the outcome will be different for every community as they grapple with the allegations.

Joaquín Baca

City Councilor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose district includes roads named after both César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

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What they’re saying

“It was a personal hurt and a betrayal.”

— José Luis Chávez, Founder and president of the César Chávez Celebration committee

“Even when we thought about canceling, we chose to keep going, because this movement is bigger than a name or one person. No single individual defines it. … We, the working people, do.”

— Arizona César E. Chávez + Dolores Huerta Holiday Coalition, Organizers of the annual César Chávez and Dolores Huerta March and Rally in Tucson

“It's due process that's needed to help grapple with this. I think that's the best resolution that each community will have to decide for themselves, how it is that they land on a decision that best reflects their community and their values.”

— Sehila Mota Casper, Executive director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation

What’s next

Lawmakers in Colorado are considering a bill to rename the voluntary state holiday from César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day.

The takeaway

The allegations against César Chávez have sparked a complex and emotional reckoning over how to commemorate his legacy, with communities across the country grappling with whether to remove his name from public spaces or find ways to honor the broader labor and civil rights movement he helped lead.