California lawmakers voted to remove Cesar Chavez’s name from the state calendar after multiple women accused the deceased labor leader of sexual abuse spanning decades, with the most recent accuser claiming she was targeted at age 18 while working at United Farm Workers headquarters.

New Accuser Comes Forward

Jennifer Andrea Porras, now 53, told a Spanish-language newspaper that Chavez made unwanted advances toward her in the 1990s when he was in his 60s and she was just 18. Working as a field organizer at the United Farm Workers headquarters in Keene, Porras alleges Chavez kissed and touched her without consent. When she threatened to expose him, she claims she faced pressure and threats against her family. The Bay Area resident decided to speak out after three other women revealed their experiences.

Disturbing Pattern Emerges

The New York Times investigation included detailed accounts from three women, two of whom said they were children when abuse began. Ana Murguia claimed the abuse started when she was just 13 years old. Debra Rojas said she was first assaulted at 12 and later raped at 15, describing a pattern of grooming that began when victims were as young as eight or nine years old. The investigation drew on interviews with more than 60 named and unnamed sources, including former aides, family members and union insiders.

Labor icon Dolores Huerta was among those who revealed years of abuse under Chavez. Esmeralda Lopez said she was 19 when Chavez allegedly made an unwanted advance during a work trip, suggesting he could use his influence to benefit her if she agreed to a sexual relationship. She rejected him and said he did not pursue it further.

Rapid Backlash Against Legacy

California officially rebranded Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day, though March 31 remains a legal holiday and paid day off for state employees. Chavez, who died on April 21, 1993, had nearly 50 schools at least partially named after him, along with roads, monuments and murals across California. Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden celebrated him for decades, with Biden displaying a bust of Chavez in the Oval Office during his presidency.

Statues are coming down, street names are being stripped, and murals are being covered in rapid response to the allegations. Removals include statues in San Fernando and at Fresno State, murals at Santa Ana College, and a proposal to rename San Diego’s Cesar Chavez Parkway. Multiple other removal efforts are underway across the state as communities grapple with the legacy of a once-revered leader.