Board grapples with renaming Cesar Chavez school following rape reports

The Ravenswood School Board has held its first meeting to discuss removing Cesar Chavez from its middle school, and debated the merits of naming the school after a person again.

The East Palo Alto school district is one of many agencies in the state grappling with renaming something meant to honor the late labor leader. Last week, reports emerged that Chavez raped girls and women during his days building a major farm-worker labor rights movement in the 1960s in California’s agricultural heartland. Among those who accused him was Dolores Huerta, who co-led the movement that eventually became the United Farm Workers.

Everyone has flaws

Ravenswood board member Laura Nunez said at Thursday’s meeting that there is a risk in renaming the school after a person because everyone is flawed. The best name that represents all the students the school serves is Ravenswood Middle School, she said.

Board member Jenny Varghese board needs to update its policy over school names first before any renaming happens.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Thursday to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day in an effort to reconcile the Latino labor icon’s legacy with explosive sexual abuse allegations before the state holiday on March 31.

Wave of renaming

The state’s effort to rename the holiday is part of a wave of other moves to alter memorials honoring the man who, in the 1960s and 1970s, helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers and had been admired by many Democratic leaders. The swift and sweeping effort to erase Chavez’s name from public life was previously unthinkable, as his status had only grown more iconic since his death in 1993.

Republican Sen. Suzette Valladares said yesterday that her family built a life in California by working the fields and that the movement brought together workers from different backgrounds.

“This is not about one person. This is not about one narrative,” she said. “It’s about honoring generations of sacrifice, of resilience and hope.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limon said honoring farmworkers is especially important at a time when federal agents are deporting non-citizens.

What will schools teach students about Chavez?

California was the first state to designate Chavez’s birthday, March 31, as a holiday to honor the civil rights leader nearly 30 years ago. The Legislature then, in 2000, passed a bill to make it an official paid day off for state employees and require that students learn about his legacy and his role in the labor movement in California. The legislation passed yesterday didn’t address the curriculum requirement. State leaders said they’re in conversation with school officials to adjust lesson plans.

Since the allegations came to light, California State University, Fresno, has covered up Chavez’s statue on campus, while cities like San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento have taken steps to erase his name from public landmarks.

Some say Huerta’s name should replace Chavez’s.