Reckoning with Chávez Legacy: Labor Rights & Abuse

It's March 30th, from your city to your ears. This is Canada News today, powered by AI.

Leaders from California to Minnesota are pulling back from Cesar Chavez's name

after reports of him sexually abusing women and girls in the 1960s while leading the farm workers' movement.

Cities and states are renaming holidays and events that used to honor his March 31st birthday,

shifting focus to the broader fight for labor.

In Tucson, Arizona, last weekend's gathering became a community in labor fair, skipping the

usual March. Grand Junction, Colorado, calls it the cease-of-poede celebration now,

and El Paso, Texas, marks it as community and labor heritage day.

Minnesota lawmakers voted to scrap their Chavez holiday, California Governor Gavin Newsom

signed a bill turning Cesar Chavez Day into farm workers' day,

and Colorado's considering the same switch. People connected to the movement

feel deep hurt and betrayal, especially since Dolores Huerta, the co-founder, revealed she was

abused too. Organizers like those in Colorado say canceling events isn't the answer.

Instead, they're highlighting Huerta's rallying cry of, yes, we can, while.

Grappling with anger from families whose parents pick crops, efforts are spreading to rename schools,

streets, and even the national monument in King California. Communities are holding public

talks to decide what's next, with some pushing to scrap everything Chavez related, and others

wanting to expand the story to honor all farm workers. This moment's forcing a real reckoning,

leaders are listening to all sides, owning the full messy history, and finding ways to keep the

labor legacy. Alive without the shadow,