Chávez's Legacy Tarnished: Rebranding Farmworkers' Day

0:00It's March 30th. From your city to your ears, this is El Paso News today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. Leaders from California to Minnesota are pulling back from Cesar Chavez' name after new reports of him sexually abusing women and girls back in the 1960s, right as he rose in the farm workers movement. Cities jumped quick to rebrand events around his usual birthday celebration on March 31st. Tucson called theirs a community in labor fair last weekend. Grand Junction went with Cesar Puede celebration and El Paso is doing community in labor heritage day this Tuesday. Lawmakers move fast too. Minnesota just voted to scrap the Chavez holiday there. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday, renaming it Farm Workers Day. Colorado's considering the same switch for their voluntary holiday. People are filling a mix of shock, hurt, and anger over this. The New York Times dug up stories of Chavez grooming young girls in the movement and co-founder Dolores Huerta said she faced abuse in her 30s.

1:04Supporters struggle to separate his wrongs from the bigger labor winds. Now renaming hits schools, streets, and even the national monument in King California. These tough talks keep going as folks figure out how to celebrate Farm Workers' rights without centering one flawed figure.