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Just nine days after San Mateo County supervisors approved, on consent, a resolution designating March 31 as a paid holiday for county employees in honor of César Chávez Day, Board President Noelia Corzo said the county is considering next steps following a New York Times investigation detailing sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader.
In a statement, Corzo said she was “devastated” by the report and would work with the county’s Office of Racial and Social Justice and local labor and immigrant rights leaders to consider an appropriate response.
The resolution was approved March 10 as part of the board’s consent agenda, with supervisors David Canepa, Jackie Speier, Corzo and Ray Mueller present. Supervisor Lisa Gauthier was absent.
March 31 is a federal holiday that commemorates Chávez, who cofounded the United Farm Workers union with Dolores Huerta. It was proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014.
On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that multiple women accused Chávez of sexual misconduct, including two women who said he sexually abused them for years when they were girls. One of them, Ana Murguia, told the paper Chávez summoned her to his office for sexual encounters beginning when she was 13, “dozens of times over the next four years.” Huerta, in the Times report, also said that Chávez had sexually abused her.
Reaction to the allegations of sexual abuse by Chávez has been swift, with many cities, schools and states considering how to disentangle themselves from the civil rights figure. Celebrations honoring the union organizer have been canceled across the country. Latino activists who previously regarded him as a folk hero have come out to disavow him.
New Legislation
On Thursday, California Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón said in a joint statement that the farmworkers movement “never has been about one individual.” They plan to put forward legislation to rename Cesar Chavez Day to “Farmworkers Day.”
“This holiday will be a time for California to honor the past, reflect on the present and renew our collective dedication to equity and justice for farmworkers,” the statement read.
California leaders said they will also work with schools and local communities to address laws and statutes related to Chávez.
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