"So allegations reported in depth by the New York Times this week that Chavez sexually abused and assaulted women and girls, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta his partner in founding the United Farm Workers Association and girls as young as 12, left many in Berkeley and Oakland reeling and officials considering renaming local landmarks and changing celebrations of Chavez planned for the coming weeks."
"It's unimaginable to consider the trauma each victim had to stomach over the past 60+ years, Berkeley school board member Ana Vasudeo wrote in a statement. It's heartbreaking, said Oakland Councilmember Noel Gallo. For me, it's someone I've honored, respected, and followed."
"Chavez's organizing motivated many of us to not only speak out on behalf of our communities but to do the work advocating for the humanity of not just farmworkers but those of us in the neighborhood."
Cesar Chavez, the renowned labor leader and Latino icon, has numerous Bay Area landmarks named after him, including Berkeley's waterfront park, Cal's student center, and schools and streets throughout the region. His farmworker movement inspired generations of community leaders, and California made him the first state to commemorate his birthday, with President Obama declaring March 31 as national Cesar Chavez Day in 2014. However, recent New York Times reporting detailed allegations that Chavez sexually abused and assaulted women and girls, including civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, his co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, and victims as young as twelve. These revelations have shocked Berkeley and Oakland communities, prompting officials to consider renaming local landmarks and reconsidering planned Chavez celebrations.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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