The city of Denver will celebrate Si Se Puede Day on March 31, replacing the name of disgraced labor organizer César Chávez with the rallying cry that translates to “yes we can,” adopted by the movement he once led. The change comes in response to allegations that the late Chávez sexually abused girls and women who worked alongside him in the labor movement.
The city will also rename César Chávez Park in west Denver after a process of community input, and has removed the memorial bust and plaque in the park. As of Thursday morning, the park name, which is etched in concrete, had been vandalised with black spray paint.
“We will not let the sins of one man set back the commitment of a community who has fought for decades to deliver on the fundamental belief that everyone is entitled to justice,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said Thursday morning. “We think it is actually more important than ever to celebrate that movement. And last night folks said over and over, this movement was never about one man. It was always about one big idea. And that idea is si se puede.”…