Cesar Chavez is not a person I knew a lot about. I am generally familiar with his leadership of migrant farm workers (I teach State v. Shack) and know that "Si se puede" was the progenitor of Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" mantra. But beyond those high-level bits, I couldn't tell you much about Chavez. Yet in certain circles Chavez was elevated to the level of Martin Luther King. Indeed, my daughter has a box set of biographies of famous Americans, which includes people like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, MLK, and Chavez. I questioned the inclusion of Chavez, but realized that he represented an important demographic, even if his contributions to America were not even in the same ballpark as great American presidents.
This background helps explain my response to the news about Cesar Chavez. The allegations against him are awful. Worse still, people who knew about these allegations stayed silent to avoid harming the broader migrant farm worker movement. As is all too common, people in positions of power can silence those they hurt, especially when there is a "greater good." And lurking in the background is the "machismo" culture that still prevails in society. Chavez's bodyguards almost certainly knew what happened. I suspect there will be more victims who come forward now that the dam has broken. The New York Times's article has a box asking for tips on other potential abuse.
The response to the allegations has been swift: summary cancelation. California was to celebrate Chesar Chavez's birthday as a holiday on March 31. It was canceled. The City of Los Angeles will rename the holiday "Farm Workers Day" and untether it from Chavez's birthday. (I generally agree with moving holidays from a fixed day to a floating Monday.) Texas apparently celebrated Chesar Chavez Day (I had no idea). It too has been canceled. At Fresno State University, a statue of Chavez has been covered. (Will the Chavez statue get the Roger Taney treatment?) Academic programs, schools, and streets named after Chavez will likely be renamed.
