California lawmakers vote to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day

California lawmakers voted to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day following sexual abuse allegations against the labor leader. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law ahead of the state holiday on March 31st. The decision came after a New York Times report detailed accusations from multiple women, including Dolores Huerta, alleging Chavez sexually abused them. Lawmakers cited the need to honor the broader farmworker movement rather than a single individual accused of wrongdoing. The allegations have prompted efforts to remove Chavez's name from public spaces and celebrations, a significant shift considering his long-standing recognition for improving farmworkers' rights. The bill received bipartisan support in the assembly.

California is poised to rename César Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day due to recent sexual abuse allegations against the labor leader. The California legislature will vote on the bill, and Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to sign it quickly before the March 31st holiday. The allegations, which surfaced last week, accuse Chavez of abusing girls and women during his time building the United Farm Workers movement in California's agricultural region in the 1960s. Dolores Huerta, who co-led the movement, is among those who have accused him. This renaming is part of a broader effort to alter memorials honoring Chavez, a significant shift considering his previously iconic status and contributions to farmworker rights.