Last month, The New York Times broke the story of the sexual abuse accusations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez less than two weeks before the national holiday honoring his legacy.
In response to calls to strike Chavez’s name from public buildings and memorials, many municipalities and institutions across California such as the Cesar E. Chavez campus in Barrio Logan has undergone the renaming process. Governor Gavin Newsom renamed March 31 as Farmworker Day, removing Chavez’s name from the holiday, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order aimed at removing Chavez’s name from city facilities, programs and public assets.
Multiple California State University campuses have either started or intend to remove Chavez’s name from their grounds, including Fresno State, Sonoma State and San Francisco State.
As for SDSU, the university said in a statement that it is “aware of the recent allegations of sexual abuse involving César Chávez and the deeply concerning and troubling nature of what survivors have reported.”
Students from Brenda Lara’s Chicano Studies class collectively wrote a letter to the Chicano Studies area in Love Library, requesting the portrait of Cesar Chavez be taken down. The library honored this request, taking down the portrait soon after.
“San Diego State University’s values extend beyond any one individual, including Chavez;” the students wrote. “…As a result, the visual production in academic spaces should reflect a broader, more inclusive narrative.”
The university said that it is reviewing its relationship with Cesar Chavez and his legacy on campus, considering specific changes such as removing Chavez’s name to align with university values.
A luncheon in Chavez’s name is held annually in Montezuma Hall by SDSU alumni to help fundraise for recipients of the Cesar Chavez scholarship. The luncheon committee did not respond to a request for comment.
Chicano Studies professor Isidro Ortiz recounts at least three times that Cesar Chavez had visited the campus since he started teaching in 1986.
“He was brought to the campus by MEChA,” said Ortiz. “They invited him and had also invited Dolores Huerta to come to the campus and make a presentation.”
Chávez died on Apr. 23, 1993, at the age of 66 in San Luis, Arizona. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. SDSU President Adela de la Torre posted her personal statement on LinkedIn acknowledging the accusations.
“As a Chicana whose political awakening was forged in the UFW movement, it is devastating to confront how César Chávez’s unchecked abuse inflicted brutal and lasting harm on young girls and women,” de la Torre said.
The Chicana and Chicano studies department similarly expressed disappointment in a statement on their official website.
“We are heart-broken and disappointed to hear the recent news regarding Cesar Chavez. Sexual abuse is always reprehensible, regardless of who perpetrates it. We stand with the victims and survivors,” the department said.
Editor’s note: A name in this story has been changed to reflect accurate information.
