By Christian Martinez LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Reuters) – California lawmakers on Thursday approved the renaming of Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day in the wake of sexual abuse allegations made against the late labor rights leader by multiple women. * The California State Senate and Assembly approved therenaming of the state holiday * Governor […]
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California lawmakers approve renaming Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day
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By Christian Martinez
LOS ANGELES, March 26 (Reuters) – California lawmakers on Thursday approved the renaming of Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day in the wake of sexual abuse allegations made against the late labor rights leader by multiple women.
* The California State Senate and Assembly approved therenaming of the state holiday * Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill later on Thursday,his office said. * Multiple women, including labor leader and United FarmWorkers cofounder Dolores Huerta, said that Chavez had sexuallyabused them during the farmworker movement. Some of thevictims were girls at the time. * California was the first state in the country to makeCesar Chavez Day a state holiday. * Minnesota lawmakers, also on Thursday, voted to repealCesar Chavez Day, CBS News reported. * Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week said the state wouldnot observe Cesar Chavez Day and would “work with Texaslawmakers to remove Cesar Chavez Day from state law altogether.” * Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass last week signed aproclamation renaming March 31 Farmworkers Day in the city.
(Reporting by Christian Martinez; Editing by Will Dunham)