The Santa Ana Unified School District will rename Cesar Chavez High School following the recent emergence of allegations that the late labor leader sexually assaulted female members of the farmworkers movement, including two teenagers, which has prompted community concern and calls for changes.
Santa Ana College leaders were also discussing this week changes to remove references to Chavez, and Santa Ana City Council members have said they’ll put the question of addressing Cesar Chavez Campesino Park on their April 7 meeting agenda.
Deciding to start the formal renaming process at their meeting Tuesday night, March 24, SAUSD board members emphasized support for survivors and the importance of addressing the issue openly.
A week ago, the New York Times published an investigation outlining the allegations, including an interview with Dolores Huerta, now 95, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Chavez and told the newspaper he raped her in 1966.
“One thing, when I listened to one of Dolores Huerta’s interviews, that weighed on me was just how women, too often experience, not only experience, but also carry the weight of, sexual assault and violence in silence for many reasons,” board President Katelyn Brazer Aceves said.
The district’s renaming process will include a legal review and opportunities for public input, officials said. Community members will be invited to submit suggestions via email, on the district website and on social media. The board is also exploring the formation of a committee to review other school names with potentially problematic histories.
District officials are also considering interim measures, such as covering the school’s current name, and have expressed interest in selecting a replacement that reflects community values, including potentially honoring Latina leaders.
Meanwhile, Santa Ana College is considering changes to a campus mural featuring Chavez as part of a broader discussion about removing his name and likeness from college property. The Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees discussed the changes during its meeting this week.
District officials said they are working with the family of the mural’s artist, Emilio Vazquez, to guide any modifications.
Members of the Vazquez family, who are also professional muralists, have indicated a willingness to assist in removing Chavez’s image, said Ethereal Violet Reyes, a spokesperson for Santa Ana College. Faculty overseeing the mural program are preparing proposed revisions for review by the Academic Senate.
Administrators said the mural is both a historical and artistic work stemming from collaboration between students and faculty, and that any changes will follow shared governance processes involving faculty, students and campus committees.
Last week, the college covered the name of its Cesar Chavez Business and Computer Center.