By Staff Reporter |

The city of Phoenix has declared Farmworkers Day to replace Cesar Chavez Day. 

The replacement holiday will occur on the same day, March 31. 

As with many other states and municipalities across the nation, the city of Phoenix ceased honoring once-lauded late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez following recent sexual abuse allegations. The allegations emerged in March of this year in reporting by The New York Times, published nearly 33 years to the day of Chavez’s death in 1993 at 66 years old. 

Chavez was born in Yuma and died in San Luis. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years prior to relocating to California where he joined the Community Service Organization and began his career as a labor advocate. 

Multiple women alleged to The New York Times that Chavez had sexually abused them when they were children. Other women alleged that Chavez sexually assaulted them, including Dolores Huerta, the woman who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association alongside him. 

Huerta alleged that she had been pressured to have sex with Chavez in 1960 and that Chavez raped her in 1966. Huerta later entered a relationship with Chavez’s brother and had four children by him. 

Some within the movement that were close to Chavez have denied the allegations against him. 

The city of Phoenix will now recognize Farmworkers Day since it occurs in proximity to April 6, the date in 1966 when the National Farm Workers Association reached a historic agreement with Schenley Industries, a major grape grower, to recognize the association as the sole collective bargaining agent for its workers.

In a press release announcing their decision, city of Phoenix leaders directly attributed The New York Times reporting to their decision to swap Cesar Chavez Day for Farmworkers Day. 

“While Cesar Chavez was a well-known leader in the fight for labor rights, the movement belonged to so many other individuals who were leaders in their own right,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “We will recognize and honor their collective struggles, sacrifices, and successes on Farmworkers Day.”

Councilwoman Laura Pastor offered sentiments similar to the mayor’s, stating that labor union advocacy was greater than Chavez’s legacy. 

“The fight for workers’ rights has always been deeply personal to me. The farmworker movement was built by generations of people who stood together for dignity and fair treatment,” said Pastor. “Permanently recognizing Farmworkers Day allows us to honor that legacy and center the workers whose courage and sacrifice made progress possible.”

Councilwoman Betty Guardado agreed.

“This day belongs to the workers. It belongs to their families. It belongs to everyone who has stood together and said that hard work deserves dignity, respect, and a fair shot,” said Guardado. 

The city has also initiated other efforts to rename street signs, facilities, and public amenities bearing Chavez’s name.

Earlier this year, Gov. Katie Hobbs repealed the state law recognizing Cesar Chavez Day through a bipartisan emergency measure advanced by the state legislature. State Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) was the sole dissenting vote against the measure. 

Gonzales wrote a letter to Hobbs arguing that a veto was necessary because the measure was unconstitutional. Gonzales urged Hobbs to allow voters to decide on the fate of Cesar Chavez Day via referendum.

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