The Santa Ana City Council decided Cesar Chavez’s name and likeness will be removed from city-owned properties, including Campesino Park.
Several council members during Tuesday night’s discussion, April 7, cited the need to acknowledge harm alleged by community members and to prioritize accountability, while others stressed the importance of moving quickly to implement the changes.
The labor leader, who died in 1993, is alleged to have groomed and sexually abused females in the farm workers movement of the 1960s in a recently released New York Times investigation.
Among the women the investigation said were assaulted during the 1960s is Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Chavez. The news report led cities, school districts and other organizations around Southern California to reconsider tributes to Chavez. Santa Ana Unified and Santa Ana College are in the midst of making changes as well.
Councilmember Jessie Lopez thanked Santa Ana residents for remaining vocal, including local artists who, she said, “have not waited for a decision from City Hall” and instead “have taken ownership of their work and started to make plans to bring something new to our city.”
City crews will remove Chavez’s name and imagery from murals, signage and other public assets. The city manager was also directed to work with labor groups to rename the observance of Cesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Day, which state leaders have already done, or consider an alternative floating holiday for city employees.
The park will drop Chavez from its name, reverting to its original Campesino Park. Located near Fifth and Susan streets, the 6.3-acre community park was renamed in 2001 to honor Chavez.
Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez credited Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Lopez for “being at the forefront of ensuring city-led efforts.”
“As a father to a 16-year-old daughter, I am proud to stand with those women and children who have bravely come forward and ensure that Cesar Chavez is not uplifted and celebrated in the city of Santa Ana,” Hernandez said.
City officials expect the changes to be completed in the coming weeks. The estimated cost for updates, including repainting and new artwork, is approximately $15,000.