The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board voted unanimously Tuesday to rename two schools bearing the name of late labor leader César Chávez and remove his image from district murals, following explosive allegations that the United Farm Workers (UFW) co-founder sexually abused girls and women, including his fellow labor activist Dolores Huerta.
The board approved a resolution titled “Standing with Survivors and Recognizing Farmworkers,” introduced by board members Kelly Gonez and Rocio Rivas, which calls for renaming César Chávez Learning Academies in San Fernando and César Chávez Elementary School in El Sereno. According to the Los Angeles Times, the renaming process is expected to be completed by fall 2026, with proposed new names brought back to the board for final approval.
The board also voted to commemorate March 31 — previously observed as César Chávez Day — as “Farmworkers Day,” shifting the district’s focus from honoring Chávez as an individual to celebrating the broader farmworkers’ movement.
“You know, we bear responsibility in ensuring that we’re protecting the young people of our city, and I trust and believe in the work that we’re doing and making space for survivors on our sites, and providing those resources,” Gonez said.
The resolution names four alleged victims: Huerta, Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Esmeralda Lopez, stating they “should never have been forced to endure the harm of the abhorrent and repetitive abuse and sexual violence committed against them, or carry the burden of society’s expectations in silence for decades.”
The allegations against Chávez were first revealed in a New York Times investigative report published last week, which included claims that he raped Huerta and sexually abused two minor girls. The report sent shockwaves across California and the country, prompting a swift wave of institutional responses.
The resolution also directs LAUSD to ensure counseling and mental health resources are available to students who may be affected by the revelations. The board noted that the allegations surfaced during Women’s History Month, which, like the Chávez holiday, is a focus of school instruction this time of year.
The resolution states that schools must have “clear, confidential reporting pathways, trained staff and trauma-informed supports for students impacted by sexual violence.”
Alison Yoshimoto-Towery, executive director for the California Institute on Law, Neuroscience and Education at UCLA and a former LAUSD instructional leader, said the situation offers a difficult but important teachable moment. “Young people sometimes learn that being compliant is valued more than speaking up,” she said. “Schools are important places to learn to replace invisibility and self-sacrifice with personal and collective pride, agency and voice.”
The board’s action came despite the fact that, as recently as March 10, the same board had unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Chávez as “a true American hero.”
LAUSD’s decision mirrors actions being taken across the region. As reported by ABC7, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also approved two motions Tuesday to review county recognitions of Chávez and rename the county holiday to Farmworkers Day. Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn introduced a motion calling for the removal of Chávez’s name and image from all county holiday-related events, materials, and communications.
A separate motion, brought by Solis and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, calls on county officials to develop a community-driven process for renaming parks, streets, county facilities, monuments, and programs that bear Chávez’s name — and to report back within 21 days.
“Los Angeles County is deeply shaken by the abuse involving Cesar Chavez, including the horrific account shared by Dolores Huerta and other survivors,” Solis said. “As the county reckons with these revelations, it must take thoughtful, deliberate action guided by community and labor.”
According to NBC Los Angeles, other cities and institutions have already begun the process. The city of San Fernando removed a Chávez statue and covered murals last week. César Chávez Middle School in San Bernardino covered its signage and mural and is now operating as Middle School 318 while a new name is found. Santa Ana College also boarded up signage at the César Chávez Business and Computer Center.
LAUSD Acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said the district will also review curriculum and instructional resources related to Chávez. The board’s resolution emphasizes that “it is essential that students engage with complex and accurate histories, including the contributions of Latino/a/x leaders and movements, while also confronting harm and injustice with honesty and integrity.”
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