A seismic report revealed allegations of sexual abuse against Cesar Chavez, prompting cities and states to reconsider holidays and initiatives in his name.
SAN ANTONIO — The fallout from newly revealed allegations of sexual abuse centering on labor rights icon Cesar Chavez continues after they were published in a bombshell report.
On Thursday, the City of San Antonio said it would not observe its traditional Cesar Chavez holiday on March 31, the late Latino civil rights leader’s birthday. That means city offices will be open and city-run services operating as normal on that Tuesday.
City officials said the holiday would be rescheduled to Friday, April 3, when “most city offices will be closed.” Residents were encouraged to check back to the City of San Antonio website or social media channels for information on adjusted city services on April 3.
It’s the latest ripple effect from a New York Times investigation published Wednesday that found Chavez, who died in 1993, allegedly abused multiple young girls whose parents were involved in the farmers rights movement he helped lead. Dolores Huerta, who cofounded the United Farm Workers union with Chavez, also said Chavez sexually abused her, resulting in the births of two children.
The aftermath has had wide-ranging reverberations.
In California, lawmakers say they intend to rename their annual Cesar Chavez Day holiday to Farmworkers Day, as a way to continue celebrating the farmworkers rights movement. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d work with the legislature to remove the holiday from state law altogether.
And in San Antonio, within hours of the Times’ report on Wednesday, City Councilwoman Teri Castillo began pushing for community conversations to potentially rename Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. Later, on Wednesday night, leaders of the Alamo City foundation which had organized the city’s annual Cesar Chavez March – canceled for 2026 – and other community initiatives in his name decided to dissolve the organization.
The Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation (CECLEF) said in a statement that its decision “reflects our obligation to uphold the values that have guided our work and to ensure we do not contribute to further harming or diminishing the experiences of those who have come forward.”