Farmworkers conflicted on former Cesar Chavez Day: 'You can only judge a living person'

""I'm still processing it," said Flor Martinez Zaragoza, chief executive and founder of the Celebration Nation. "I stand with the survivors.""

"In the wake of the New York Times report, many government and city officials looked to distance themselves from Chávez's newly tainted legacy."

"Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed a proclamation on March 19 to change Césár Chávez Day to Farmworkers Day in the city."

"Martinez Zaragoza is worried that the rush to tear down the Chávez legacy so hastily could altogether erase the history of the United Farm Workers movement."

Farmworkers Day has replaced Césár Chávez Day following allegations of sexual assault against Chávez and Dolores Huerta. Community leaders and officials are distancing themselves from Chávez's legacy, leading to the removal of his name from various public spaces. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom have supported this change to recognize the contributions of agricultural workers. Concerns arise that this swift action may erase the history of the United Farm Workers movement, which has played a crucial role in securing labor rights and safety protections.

Read at Los Angeles Times