Berkeley could soon remove Cesar Chavez’s name from the city park and holiday that honor him, in the wake of a report last week that the revered labor leader sexually assaulted women and girls.
Mayor Adena Ishii said Tuesday that she plans to introduce an item at the City Council’s April 14 meeting directing Berkeley staff and the Parks Commission to develop a plan to rename all city events, locations and holidays that are named for Chavez. Ishii’s proposal asks that staff and the commission return to the council with recommendations for new names “that will continue to honor the legacy of labor organizing and solidarity for farm workers, and recognize farm workers as the backbone of America.”
Meanwhile Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani, whose district includes Cesar Chavez Park, introduced her own item for Tuesday’s council meeting to rename the park for United Farm Workers Association co-founder Dolores Huerta, and direct city officials to “remove all signage bearing the name Cesar Chavez from park property as soon as practicable.”…