Cesar Chavez was accused of hurting multiple women. How should LCC respond?

By Emmett Roman
Staff Reporter

Just a heads-up, readers: This article discusses sexual assault. Please take care while reading. LCC’s Campus Safety Information and Resources page website includes links to resources for sexual assault survivors. There is also free counseling available for students.

Recently, on March 20, the New York Times published an article, “Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years,” written by Manny Fernandez and Sarah Hurtes, which explained allegations of sexual assault perpetrated against Ana Murguia, Dolores Huerta and Debra Rojas by Cesar Chavez. Murguia and Rojas were assaulted by Chavez for several years from their youth to early adulthood. The article honors the three women by telling their story and giving them—as well as other survivors—a voice against their abusers.

This article shocked many, as Chavez has been seen as a predominant figurehead for Latino, immigrant and migrant civil rights for over 60 years. Here at LCC, the Cesar Chavez Multicultural Center honors him by using his name for the center. The multicultural center focuses on providing cross-cultural interactions for LCC students through mentorship programs and enrichment. But, what should the college do with our multicultural center’s name? Will it change, or will it be left the same?

When asked for comment, LCC’s Public Relations department stated, “Lansing Community College is aware of the recent allegations and is reviewing the implications for our center and the community we serve.”

Campus leaders in Latino and Hispanic heritage were contacted but did not comment prior to this article’s publication.

The United Farm Workers, the organization Chavez helped create, has made a statement themselves on the matter. According to the same New York Times article, “The United Farm Workers issued a statement saying that the organization would not take part in any activities celebrating Mr. Chavez’s birthday on March 31.” The union said the “troubling allegations” that were surfacing were incompatible with the organization’s values, adding that it did not have firsthand knowledge of any misconduct.

Inside Higher Ed has reported that colleges around the United States are removing statues, names and other honorary signifiers that include Chavez’s name, as well. California State University has covered a statue honoring Chavez, Sonoma State University removed their plaques and portraits honoring Chavez, Santa Ana College is openly discussing their plans to change the name of one of their buildings to remove Chavez’s name, Eastern Connecticut University is renaming one of their awards to not include Chavez and many more colleges have weighed in on what they are going to do in response to the allegations.

Renaming the center to honor other important figures from the movement might be the step that LCC may take. Other schools, like Chicago’s Chavez Academic Center, have already begun the renaming process. There are many other prominent figures that LCC could rename the center after. For example, Dolores Huerta was another important figure for Latino, migrant and immigrant workers within the movement. Not only would LCC be honoring a different figure, but they would also be honoring a woman, bringing more honor to those who were abused by Chavez.

Huerta was the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, and founded the Agricultural Workers Association. “The first testament to her lobbying and negotiating talents were demonstrated in securing Aid for Dependent Families (AFDC) and disability insurance for farm workers in the State of California in 1963, an unparalleled feat at the time,” the Dolores Huerta Foundation states. “She was also instrumental in the enactment of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975.” This was the first law in the United States to grant farm workers in California the right to organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

Huerta not only provided advancement for farmworkers’ rights, but she also continued to fight for women’s rights as well. Chavez and Huerta may have been each other’s right hand, but Huerta recognized the gender discrimination within the farm workers movement, and continuously fought against it.

Another woman whose contributions that often go unrecognized is Jessie Lopez de la Cruz. Cruz was the first female recruiter for the United Farm Workers and became a top recruiter very quickly. She participated in a variety of actions like picketing stores, to advocating for the safety of Mexican American workers against employer corruption.

So, there are many options to replace Chavez as a cultural head here at LCC. Huerta and Lopez were two powerful female figures within the movement, and by changing the center’s name to honoring either of them, it gives women the power rather than an abuser.