California governor quickly signs bill renaming 'Cesar Chavez Day'

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares looks at the fields when she returns to her Central Valley childhood home.

Her forebears worked the crops, Valladares said, along with many others. They came from different countries and places, but all had their hands in the soil.

“That work has always mattered, and the people have always mattered,” the Santa Clarita Republican said Thursday, moments before adding her voice to legislation to rename Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day. “I don’t just see crops. I see my family.”

Valladares’ colleagues on both sides of the political aisle shared the sentiment. They said the movement for farmworker rights never rested on one person. Instead, thousands of people over years made it a reality and continue at that work today.

The move to rename Cesar Chavez Day quickly sprung from accusations this month that the iconic farmworker movement leader sexually abused women and girls. Chavez died over 30 years ago, but his name and image persist in murals and monuments. A small park a few blocks from the state Capitol bears his name. And March 31, a state holiday, was called Cesar Chavez Day.

The Assembly passed the bill renaming the day on Monday in a 68-0 vote. The Senate passed it 37-0.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2156 hours after Senate passage, giving no comment. The change took effect immediately.

“Obviously, a very difficult few weeks, but an opportunity as well,” said state Senator Steve Padilla, a San Diego Democrat.

Padilla echoed the refrain that the farmworker movement focused on the collective effort, not one person. Lawmakers, he said, would always stand with victims.

State Senator Susan Rubio, a Baldwin Park Democrat, called herself a victim advocate. She said victims carry their pain for years. When they decide to speak, they need support.

Nothing hurts more than a victim facing disbelief after offering strong evidence of their abuse, she added.

“Justice begins when we start listening,” Rubio said.

One of the people who leveled accusations was Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Chavez in 1962.

She issued a statement last week saying she had two sexual encounters with Chavez in the 1960s. She said she felt manipulated and pressured the first time and was forced the second time.

Both encounters led to pregnancies and children whom Huerta said she arranged to have raised by other families.

Senate President Pro tempore Monique Limón, a Santa Barbara Democrat, pointed to people like Huerta as the reason for quick legislative action. Renaming the holiday, she said, showed support for the farmworker movement and offered some dignity and justice to his accusers.

Senators praised the resilience and strength of farmworkers.

Limón said their harsh conditions, exposure to dangerous chemicals and persistent low wages led to the farmworker movement.

“That work is ongoing and it’s still necessary today,” she said, adding: “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”

State Senator Lena Gonzalez, a Long Beach Democrat, spoke on behalf of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. She said many farmworkers are immigrants who come to California, noting some of her colleagues are descendants of farmworkers.

“This was very long overdue,” she added.

Farmwork wears down the body — reason for California to honor them with their own day, said state Senator Aisha Wahab, a Silicon Valley Democrat.

She said the renaming didn’t erase their work. Instead, it showed the truth. When serious accusations of sexual assault arise, lawmakers didn’t shy away.

“We choose dignity,” Wahab added. “We choose the workers. We choose the survivors.”