California lawmakers approve renaming Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day
By Christian Martinez
LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Reuters) - California lawmakers on Thursday approved the renaming of Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day in the wake of sexual abuse allegations made against the late labor rights leader by multiple women.
The California State Senate and Assembly approved the renaming of the state holiday, sending the bill to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom.
Multiple women, including labor leader and United Farm Workers cofounder Dolores Huerta, said that Chavez had sexually abused them during the farmworker movement. Some of the victims were girls at the time.
California was the first state in the country to make Cesar Chavez Day a state holiday.
Minnesota lawmakers, also on Thursday, voted to repeal Cesar Chavez Day, CBS News reported.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week said the state would not observe Cesar Chavez Day and would "work with Texas lawmakers to remove Cesar Chavez Day from state law altogether."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass last week signed a proclamation renaming March 31 Farmworkers Day in the city.
