The Richmond City Council voted to rename the city’s Cesar Chavez holiday to “Farm Workers Movement Day” following recent sexual abuse allegations against the late labor activist.
Councilmember Cesar Zepeda introduced the resolution, arguing that the labor movement was always larger than its most famous leader and that continuing to focus on one person ignores the contributions of many others.
The council considered several names, including “United Farm Workers Day” and “Farm Workers Day.”
Councilmember Sue Wilson proposed the final name, “Farm Workers Movement Day,” to better represent the collective work of various unions and communities.
A separate proposal by Councilmember Soheila Bana to name the day after co-founder Dolores Huerta failed to move forward for lack of a second.
Zepeda emphasized that powerful figures must be held accountable for their actions regardless of their historical impact.