SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose took a step toward removing the name of Cesar Chavez from parks and sites around the city. This follows allegations of sexual assault against Chavez that surfaced last week.
The Catalyst: A Bombshell Investigation
The sudden shift follows a March 18, 2026, investigative report by The New York Times. The report detailed decades of alleged sexual abuse, grooming, and rape of women and young girls by Chavez.
Most significantly, Dolores Huerta, the 95-year-old co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), broke a 60-year silence to confirm she was a survivor of abuse by Chavez. Her courage in coming forward has been the primary driver for city leaders to take immediate action.
Action in San Jose
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the San Jose City Council’s Rules and Open Government Committee voted unanimously to move forward with a two-step plan:
Inventory of Assets: The city will identify every park, street, building, and piece of public art that bears Chavez’s name or likeness. This includes the prominent Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown.…