A statue of César Chávez was removed Thursday from the Dallas Farmers Market, just one day after a New York Times investigation brought widespread attention to sexual abuse allegations against the late farmworkers' rights leader.
The removal comes as six Dallas City Council members requested that the city strip references to Chávez from the city calendar following accusations that he sexually abused women and girls, including fellow labor leader Dolores Huerta.
The New York Times investigation outlined years of alleged sexual misconduct tied to Chávez, including claims that he engaged in abuse with women and girls connected to the farmworker movement during the 1960s and 70s. Huerta released a statement the same day the investigation was published, revealing she experienced two separate coerced sexual encounters with Chávez. She also disclosed she had two children with him and arranged for them to be raised by other families to give them stable lives.
Council Members Adam Bazaldua, Jesse Moreno, Jaime Resendez, Laura Cadena, Paula Blackmon, and Gay Donnell Willis have pushed to designate April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" and to open a broader discussion about renaming César Chávez Boulevard.
The boulevard runs along the eastern edge of downtown from Pacific Avenue, over I-30, past the Farmers Market, and through southeast Dallas. The street was renamed after Chávez in 2010 at the request of local Hispanic community advocates.
Council Member Bazaldua said he would request a resolution to reconsider recognizing Cesar Chavez Day in Dallas, noting: "Without accountability and support, there can be no justice for any of us."
The fallout has extended statewide and beyond. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas would not observe the Cesar Chavez Day holiday and pledged to work with state lawmakers to remove it from state law altogether. The Texas House's Mexican American Legislative Caucus described the allegations as "a profound betrayal" and said it will pursue renaming the state holiday.
Across Texas, events and marches tied to Chávez have been canceled, including Houston's annual march. El Paso announced it would observe March 31 as Community & Labor Heritage Day, while officials in San Antonio and Austin are also weighing street renaming options.
Dallas ISD's Cesar Chavez Learning Center is also expected to come up for discussion once the district returns from spring break.
Dallas is one of more than 130 locations across the country named after Chávez, including streets, libraries, parks, and community centers in at least 19 states. At the U.S. Department of Labor, officials removed Chávez's portrait and covered his name at the entrance to an auditorium named after him.
Chávez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Huerta in 1962, died in 1993. The United Farm Workers union distanced itself from annual celebrations of its founder, calling the allegations serious enough to warrant urgent steps and support for anyone who may have been victimized.
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