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Following allegations of rape and sexual abuse by the late California labor leader Cesar Chavez, more than 30 school districts across the state face questions about renaming elementary, middle and high schools, while at least one California State University reckons with its memorialization of Chavez鈥檚 legacy.

Detailed in a report by 罢丑别听聽and in a聽 on Instagram, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta said Chavez forced her to have sex with him in the 1960s, leading her to become pregnant. On a second occasion, she says, Chavez 鈥渕anipulated and pressured鈥� her into having sex, leading to another pregnancy.

鈥淚 am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,鈥� Huerta wrote. 鈥淔ollowing the New York Times鈥�  multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by Cesar Chavez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.鈥�

Huerta was already a young mother at the time. She said that after the babies Chavez fathered were born, she arranged for other families to raise them.

Huerta and Chavez co-founded the United Farm Workers in 1962. On Tuesday, the union it would not participate in Cesar Chavez Day activities later this month due to the 鈥渄eeply troubling allegations.鈥�

The New York Times report includes Huerta鈥檚 allegations in addition to accusations by two women who say Chavez groomed and sexually abused them when they were 12 and 13. 

As many as 40 of California鈥檚 public schools are named for Chavez. He received an聽 from CSU Bakersfield in 2023, and the聽is housed on that campus.聽

In a the foundation said it was 鈥渄eeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing. The foundation is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to be responsive to these allegations, support the people who may have been harmed by his actions, and ensure we are united and guided by our commitment to justice and community empowerment.鈥�

A spokesperson for CSU Bakersfield said the campus is processing the allegations and has no plan to modify building names or curriculum yet. In a written statement, the CSU Chancellor鈥檚 office said it is 鈥渄eeply troubled鈥� by the allegations.

鈥淎s a significant historical figure, his legacy is honored in various ways across CSU universities, including through statues, murals and building names,鈥� the statement reads. 鈥淎t the same time, the CSU is firmly committed to fostering university environments centered on respect, integrity and the safety and dignity of all members of our campus communities. We are carefully reviewing this information and considering appropriate courses of action.鈥�

A cultural and civil rights icon throughout the state, Chavez inspired instructional programming and research at educational institutions. Today, the Los Angeles Unified School District said it is taking the allegations 鈥渧ery seriously.鈥�

鈥淟os Angeles Unified respects the voices and courage of survivors of all forms of violence,鈥� a spokesman said in a written statement. 鈥淭he District is reviewing curriculum and resources to ensure the emphasis remains on the important work of the farmworker movement, not on any one individual. It is important to recognize the collective work of thousands who have advanced social justice, labor rights, and community empowerment.鈥�

On Tuesday, the Fresno Unified School District announced that the district would not participate in a planned celebration on Wednesday at the city鈥檚 Warnors Theatre.

鈥淒ue to recent allegations about Cesar Chavez, district officials have determined that students and staff will not be part of the program or the march afterward to the Cesar Chavez Adult Education Center,鈥� the district statement says.

The UFW鈥檚 Tuesday announcement stated that the union does not have 鈥渄irect reports or firsthand knowledge鈥� of the allegations but added that they involve the abuse of young women and minors.

鈥淪ome of the reports are family issues, and not our story to tell or our place to comment on,鈥� the statement reads. 鈥淗owever, the allegations are serious enough that we feel compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized.鈥�

A spokesperson for the UFW declined to comment further on the timing of the allegations or how many alleged victims are involved.

Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, and died in 1993. His birthday is a state holiday. Public schools in California may, but are not required to, close in observance. In 2014, President Barack Obama declared Cesar Chavez Day a federal commemorative holiday.

Numerous events take place every year to celebrate Chavez鈥檚 legacy. According to The Fresno Bee, the Fresno-based Latino Education Issues Roundtable board announced it would not hold the 鈥淟egacy Celebration鈥� honoring Chavez on Wednesday 鈥渄ue to recent allegations and the withdrawal of several key partners,鈥� including the school district.

罢丑别听 reported that a march in Corpus Christi, Texas, was called off last week after Huerta withdrew.

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