DELANO, Calif. — Nestled north of Los Angeles among vineyards, orange groves and almond orchards, Delano has long celebrated its role in the farm labor movement. Many families here still work the fields. Public murals and landmarks honor organizers, and a prominent image of Cesar Chavez stands among local leaders — a reflection of his role as a cofounder of the United Farm Workers and a once-unquestioned hometown hero.
That reputation was upended after a New York Times investigation published allegations that Chavez sexually abused young girls in the 1970s and raped longtime ally Dolores Huerta in the 1960s. The report, released just before Chavez’s birthday on March 31, touched off a wave of responses statewide: statues have been taken down, places named for him are being reconsidered, and civic leaders across California have begun rethinking public tributes.
In Delano reactions are divided. Some residents and officials want to remove Chavez’s name from schools and parks; the Delano Joint Union High School District voted to rename Cesar E. Chavez High School, and the city council is expected to weigh whether to rename Cesar E. Chavez Park. Councilmember Bryan Osorio said the city will consider a range of steps to address accountability, while acknowledging there is fierce local resistance to changes.
For others, the allegations are deeply painful. Monike Reynozo, director of programs at youth advocacy group Loud For Tomorrow and a descendant of farmworkers, said it is devastating to learn these claims about a role model but argued the broader movement does not have to revolve around one man. She said the struggle was built by thousands of people whose contributions can be recognized without centering a single figure.
Skeptics have also spoken up. Armando Pulido, a grape picker from nearby Earlimart, said he doubts the reports and questioned why the accusations were not made public while Chavez was alive. Dolores Huerta, who has said she was assaulted, told Latino USA that she delayed speaking because she feared the consequences for the movement if the allegations emerged at the time.
The Times story cited internal union emails and social media posts, including accounts by Ana Murgia and Debra Rojas, and reported that some union members warned that public accusations could harm organizing work. NPR has not independently confirmed all of the details cited in the investigation.
For many, the new allegations complicate how to remember concrete gains achieved by the UFW — higher wages, mandated breaks and access to bathroom facilities in the fields — reforms that materially improved workers’ lives. That history makes it difficult for some residents to erase Chavez from public memory.
The controversy has also prompted discussion about who is centered in farmworker history. Some activists say the moment offers an opening to highlight other leaders, especially Filipino organizers who helped spark early labor actions. Larry Itliong, a Filipino American organizer, led Filipino farmworkers and helped launch the 1965 Delano Grape Strike that set the stage for the UFW’s founding. Rogelio Gadiano, who gives local history tours and grew up in Delano, said Filipinos were the spark behind the strike and remain underrecognized.
As Delano and other communities consider renaming schools, parks and streets or removing monuments, local leaders say any decision must balance honoring the movement’s accomplishments, acknowledging victims, and reflecting the community’s views. Residents and activists across Central California are wrestling with how to reconcile pride in collective achievements with painful new claims about a once-celebrated leader.