The council also voted to approve a measure that could prevent federal agents from using public spaces to stage immigration enforcement actions.
PHOENIX (CN) – The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to rename Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworker Day in light of recent sexual abuse allegations against the civil rights leader.
The city will also begin the process of renaming several buildings, schools, streets and parks named for Cesar Chavez, who in 1965 co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Delores Huerta.
Last week, Huerta FOUND that she was raped twice by Chavez and hid two children conceived with him from the public in order not to tarnish the legacy of the union to which she dedicated her life. On the same day, the New York Times published one investigation documenting Chávez’s regular sexual abuse of two minor girls from 1972 to 1977.
The United Farm Workers already have cancelled all Cesar Chavez Day activities.
“Cesar Chavez may have been the face of the farm worker movement, but the movement made him. He didn’t make the movement,” Councilwoman Betty Guardado said Wednesday afternoon. “It was the workers who decided to go on strike. It was the workers who decided to picket.”
Phoenix has celebrated Cesar Chavez Day on his birthday, March 31, since the early 2000s. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama declared the day a federal memorial holiday. Since March 18, many states have cancelled their annual celebrations. The Arizona Legislature is already moving forward on one bill to abolish the holiday throughout the country.
“As a society, we idolize individuals who are part of a collective, when we really need to look at the bigger picture,” said Council Member Laura Pastor. “Leaders like Dolores Huerta and many others carried the flag forward.”
Pastor said she worked closely with Chavez and Huerta in her college days.
“The ones we really need to recognize are the unsung heroes who do and did the work. Who made the movement happen,” she said.
Facilities named for Chavez in Phoenix include:
- Cesar Chavez Plaza
- Boulevard Cesar Chavez ceremonial road sign
- Cesar Chavez Community School
- Cesar Chavez Park and Community Center
- Cesar Chavez Library
- Cesar Chavez High School
- A mural honoring Cesar Chavez at CPLC Maryvale Community Service Center, Phoenix
Some changes will take longer than others. City staff told the council that street signs and the plaque marking Cesar Chavez Square could be removed within hours of the meeting. Similarly, renaming the library can be instantaneous.
Anything under the purview of the city’s parks department would be subject to a rigorous removal process. Artwork like the Maryvale mural is under the authority of the Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission. City staff said it would have to consult with the commission and individual artists.
“I know there’s a lot of concern, and rightfully so, that we’re speeding up the process,” said council member Anna Hernandez. “We will engage in a process to get their input on how to move forward.”
The council voted 9-0 to support measure. City staff will update council every 30 days on the progress of the removal.
“Today is not an easy day,” said Guardado. “But this is a conversation that is necessary. We know this is something that people have a very difficult time reporting. As a city, we honor all victims and applaud all victims who come forward.”
Later, the council voted to create one community transparency initiative to prevent federal immigration officers from using Phoenix public spaces to stage immigration enforcement actions.
“We have to be prepared,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “We’re next on ICE’s list.”
Ultimately, Phoenix Police will decide whether to allow immigration officers to use public spaces.
Community members largely supported the move, but said they were tired of giving Phoenix police too much authority.
Two days ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement stationed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as well as numerous airports around the country. Gallego said that because the federal government has some jurisdiction over airports, the city cannot keep ICE out of Sky Harbor.
In addition to restricting ICE from public spaces, the initiative would create an online portal for residents to track, document and report federal agents who violate citizens’ civil rights. Criminal referrals will be made to Phoenix police and the state attorney general.
The portal will be available for 60 days.
Because ICE has resisted cooperation with the investigations elsewhere, city staff said investigations will be difficult and that the likelihood of prosecution is low.
“I expect no cooperation from this rogue agency,” Hernandez said.
The city will also collect data on how federal immigration enforcement affects city services and small businesses and train city employees to identify and report immigration actions that may violate city policy or state or federal law.
The council voted 8-1 with Republican Jim Waring dissenting.
Subscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing arguments provides the latest on ongoing trials, major litigation and decisions in courts around the US and the world, while monthly Under the lights feeds legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.
