For the first time in more than 25 years, California and numerous Southern California municipalities, including Los Angeles County, will observe Farmworkers Day without celebrating the legacy of union leader Cesar Chavez. This shift follows serious allegations that have complicated his historical standing.

Shifting Focus for Farmworkers Day

The renaming and redefinition of Farmworkers Day have become a central topic for local leaders. During a recent Board of Supervisors meeting in Los Angeles County, Asian American communities emphasized the need to center farmworkers and other union leaders in these evolving discussions.

Uplifting Filipino Leaders

Advocates argue that this moment of reckoning is an opportunity to correct historical omissions. Maria Cabardo stated that it is time to truthfully elevate the substantial roles played by Filipino farmworkers and their leaders in the movement. She specifically named figures such as Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco, Lorraine Agtang, and Luciano Crespo.

Alexandro José Gradilla, an associate professor at Cal State Fullerton, noted that Chavez’s legacy had been under scrutiny for decades prior to the recent explosive investigation. He cited the history of sabotaging Filipino workers and Chavez being “openly and virulently anti-immigrant” as reasons for this de-centering.

Gradilla cautioned against submitting to a “cult of personality,” regardless of whether the figure is a person of color, queer, or a woman. He suggested that the movement has already begun to move past hero worship surrounding Chavez.

Community Calls for Inclusive Recognition

Many speakers at the L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting supported the name change for the holiday. However, many also stressed that the effort to de-center Chavez must continue by acknowledging the Filipino workers who propelled the union forward.

Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California, affirmed their support for a community-driven process that centers survivors. She stressed the necessity of uplifting Filipinos to properly honor the entire Farm Workers movement.

Advocates point out that the movement was ignited in 1965 by Filipino farm workers led by Larry Itliong and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, who initiated the Delano grape strike. As Friedman noted, these leaders organized, mobilized, and took the initial risks, yet their contributions remain underrepresented.

Mayra Castañeda, a member of SEIU United Healthcare Workers, views the establishment of a collective Farmworkers Day as a chance to recognize generations of essential workers. This change, she believes, will educate future generations about ongoing struggles for labor rights and equity.

Local Impact in Delano, California

Delano, California, the cradle of the farm labor movement and home to the first United Farm Workers (UFW) headquarters, is grappling intensely with the fallout. Monike Reynozo of Loud For Tomorrow, whose parents were farmworkers, acknowledged the heartbreak surrounding the allegations against Chavez, a former role model.

Reynozo suggested that the mural in Delano showcasing Chavez and other leaders no longer needs him as the central figure, emphasizing the thousands of others who fought for labor rights.

Reviewing Local Landmarks

In response to the allegations—which include claims of sexual abuse against young girls in the 1970s and rape against Dolores Huerta in the 1960s—landmarks bearing Chavez’s name are under review across the state.

  • The Delano Joint Union High School District voted last week to rename Cesar E. Chavez High School.
  • City leaders in Delano are expected to discuss renaming Cesar Chavez Park in an early April council meeting.

City councilmember Bryan Osorio confirmed that accountability measures for Delano are “on the table,” though he anticipates resistance to making changes. Chavez’s union was instrumental in securing better conditions, including pay, work breaks, and guaranteed bathrooms for field workers, which explains why many residents struggle with the allegations.

Osorio noted that many feel angry at the accusers because Chavez was such a significant part of Delano’s history. Armando Pulido, a grape picker, expressed disbelief, stating he thinks the allegations are lies fabricated after Chavez’s death, questioning why they were not raised while he was alive.

L.A. County officials are scheduled to report back to the board in the coming weeks with further details regarding the renaming of streets, buildings, monuments, and programs currently bearing Chavez’s name.