BACK OF THE YARDS (WBBM Newsradio) -- This week's allegations of sexual assault against the late labor leader Cesar Chavez has prompted a re-assessment of his legacy, as well as the status of several tributes to him in Chicago.
The Chicago public elementary school at 48th and Marshfield in this Southwest side neighborhood bears the name of the influential co-founder of the United Farm Workers, and a stretch of Blue Island Avenue in Pilsen is also called "Honorary Cesar Chavez Avenue."
But city leaders are now considering changes, following reports that Chavez groomed and sexually assaulted girls and women in the organization, including longtime colleague Dolores Huerta.
"She's somebody I know ... and I believe her," said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker during an appearance Thursday on Chicago's West side, acknowledging the difficulty in posthumously unwinding some honors to Chavez.
But he said victims should lead the discussion on what should happen: "I think we need to listen to the people who were most ill-affected. We ought to be listening to them about how we proceed now."
As for the status of Cesar Chavez Multicultural Academic Center, a CPS spokesperson says school leaders have already started talking to the community here about whether to change the school's name, and any recommendations will go to the local school council.
There's no word on whether the city will take down the honorary street sign honoring Chavez in Pilsen.