California quickly moved to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day in the wake of allegations the labor leader abused women and girls. Less than two weeks before the annual holiday celebrating Chavez, the California state assembly and state senate said they were introducing a bill to redesignate the day. Celebrations for the civil rights leader in California, Texas and Arizona, where Chavez was born, have been canceled. And leaders across California, where Chavez helped galvanize a movement for farmworker rights, are also taking steps to rename the many public places that bear his name. California was the first state, nearly 30 years ago, to designate Chavez’s birthday, 31 March, as a day to honor him.

Source: The Guardian March 19, 2026 20:39 UTC