Efforts to erase César Chávez’s name from city, school sites gain steam with mayoral order, district review

Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order Friday directing city departments to immediately begin removing references to César Chávez from city facilities, programs and more.

The action follows a New York Times investigation in which two women accused the late labor icon of sexually abusing them when they were underage, while Dolores Huerta, who worked alongside Chávez for decades, said he sexually assaulted her.

The painful revelations on Wednesday – which were hinted at the day before as two organizations closely associated with Chávez, including the United Farm Workers union, distanced themselves from him and canceled events scheduled for this month – set off a sharp and immediate domino effect.

Elected officials and advocates rushed to state their support for the women who lodged the allegations against Chávez while embarking upon a wholesale review of the public representation of the labor leader’s legacy. He has been honored throughout San Diego and California, particularly by affixing his name to streets, parks, recreation centers and more.

Gloria’s office, in addition to the changes to names of such sites on city property, plans to work with the City Council to amend city code to designate the March 31 holiday, which had honored Chávez’s birthday, as “Farmworkers Day.”

The decisions, Gloria said, reflect the city’s support for survivors, “both those who have come forward and those who, for any reason, are unable to speak out.”

“We also recognize that the farmworker-rights and Chicano-rights movements were built by countless workers, organizers, and families whose contributions changed lives and strengthened communities,” he added. “This executive order ensures that our city honors that collective legacy while aligning our public spaces with the values we uphold today.”

The effort to rename César Chávez Parkway in Barrio Logan has begun. The process, to be led by the city’s Transportation and Development Services departments, will include outreach to residents and stakeholders, as well as public meetings, before final consideration by the council. 

Gloria also is asking city employees to “to inventory all public-facing references to César Chávez – including facilities, signage, programs, and digital content – and to take appropriate action to remove or replace them,” according to a news release.

The San Diego Unified School District, meanwhile, announced on Friday that its board would “consider taking action” to begin the process to change the name of César Chávez Elementary School in Southcrest.

“By initiating this process, we are creating a pathway for open dialogue, community voice, and thoughtful consideration about the future of this school,” said Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, a trustee, in a statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that every voice is heard and that this process is inclusive, transparent, and centered on students and families.”

The goal, said board President Richard Barrera, is to continue to honor the “history of the farmworkers movement” and develop “a name that inspires future generations of young people to know they can make a positive difference in this world.” 

The San Diego Community College District, which has a campus named for Chávez on Main Street, where it meets the city’s César E. Chávez Parkway, also said it also is reviewing the possibility of renaming the site.

City News Service contributed to this report.