César Chávez Day renamed to Farmworkers Day following sexual abuse revelations – One America News Network

March 27, 2026

(L) SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: A statue of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is seen through a sculpture with the United Farm Workers (UFW) flag at the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on March 19, 2026 in San Fernando, California. A day after mounting calls to reconsider honors for Cesar Chavez amid sexual abuse allegations, California legislative leaders said they would move to rename the March 31 holiday as “Farmworker Day” to reflect the broader labor movement and recognize survivors. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) / (Background) SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: A California flag flies in front of 555 California Street on May 09, 2023 in San Francisco, California. San Francisco's downtown has an estimated 18.4 million square feet of available real estate and continues to struggle with keeping retail and commercial properties rented out following the COVID-19 pandemic and lags behind all major cities in the U.S. and Canada. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — (L) A statue of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez on March 19, 2026 in San Fernando, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) / (Background) A California flag flies on May 09, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Addie Davis
1:00 PM – Friday, March 27, 2026

California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Thursday renaming César Chávez Day to “Farmworkers Day.” The change takes effect immediately, just days before the holiday was set to be celebrated on March 31^st this month.

The holiday name change is in response to the sexual assault allegations that have since come to light against the now-deceased civil rights and labor leader. Following a multi-year New York Times (NYT) investigation, details of the allegations made by multiple women were outlined, which included grooming, sexual assault, intimidation and rape.

Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association alongside Chávez — later merging with another group to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) — alleged that he sexually abused her in the 1960s.

In a statement published on Medium, corroborated by the NYT report, she also admitted that she did not come forward earlier since she wanted to protect the farmworker rights movement.

“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work,” Huerta wrote. “I wasn’t going to let César or anyone else get in the way of the only vehicle to secure those rights.”

Additionally, three other women — Esmeralda Lopez, Debra Rojas, and Ana Murguia — detailed similar abuse in regard to Chávez.

The shocking allegations have prompted a number of states and other entities to cancel or rebrand celebrations for the holiday. For example, Governor Katie Hobbs (D-Ariz.) and Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) have since announced that their respective states will no longer recognize him.

In California, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón (D) authored the bill to redesignate the observance.

“California’s farmworker rights movement never has been about one individual,” Rivas and Limón said in a joint statement on March 19^th. “This holiday will be a time for California to honor the past, reflect on the present and renew our collective dedication to equity and justice for farmworkers,” they continued.

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