Will The City of Lubbock Rename Cesar E. Chavez Drive After Recent Allegations? Other Texas Cities May Consider

The New York Times dropped a piece on Wednesday that sent state and local officials scrambling to deal with what could be fallout from a report about Cesar E. Chavez, someone who had been considered a civil rights icon in some parts of the country.

The New York Times reported this week that Chavez "groomed and sexually abused young girls" who were part of the United Farm Workers movement. Chavez was the Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers.

The report from the New York Times starts by laying out an accusation that Chavez had a sexual encounter with Ana Murguia. She was 13 at the time and he was 45. She told the New York Times that is was the first of dozens of sexual encounters over the next four years she had with Chavez. The Times reported that two women came forward with their accusations and that there was plenty of evidence.

Ms. Murguia and another woman, Debra Rojas, say that Mr. Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were girls, from around 1972 to 1977. He was in his 40s and had become a powerful, charismatic figure who captured global attention as a champion of farmworker rights.

The two women have not shared their stories publicly before, and an investigation by The Times has uncovered extensive evidence to support their accusations and those raised by several other women against Mr. Chavez, the United Farm Workers co-founder who died in 1993 at the age of 66.

The New York Times reported that the allegation could have far reaching impacts. Several states, including Texas have a Cesar Chavez Day. Cities have renamed streets in honor of Chavez. Already, the United Farm Workers have paused plans to celebrate the birthday of Chavez on March 31.

In Texas, MALC, put out a tweet saying they are prepared to lead the charge to do away with the state holiday.

Numerous cities, including here in Lubbock have named streets for Cesar Chavez. in Lubbock, Cesar E. Chavez Drive runs through MacKenzie Park. Will Lubbock City Council members feel pressure to change the name? Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on X that Texas will not observe Cesar Chavez Day. In Lubbock, the Lubbock County Democrat Party has called on the Lubbock City Council to rename Cesar Chavez Driver. Will there be more pressure to do so? Other cities in Texas and California will be asking themselves the same question.