MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The City of Milwaukee is cancelling its planned Cesar Chavez Day celebration following new allegations of sexual assault and grooming against the late civil rights activist.
“These women carried enormous pain for decades because they feared that speaking the truth would cost the movement everything they had sacrificed to build. That is an impossible burden, and they should never have had to carry it,” said 8th District Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa in a statement. “The City of Milwaukee’s celebration of Cesar Chavez Day, scheduled for later this month, will not be taking place.”
An investigation by The New York Times published March 18n found “extensive” evidence that Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls as young as 12 who worked in the United Farm Workers co-founder’s movement. The article included statements from several women including Dolores Huerta, perhaps Chavez’s most well-known female advocate within the UFW movement.
The United Farm Workers said in a statement they will not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities this year. The City of Milwaukee has celebrated Cesar Chavez Day annually on or around March 31 since 2014.
Zamarripa’s statement also indicated she would be speaking with community leaders regarding the naming of Cesar Chavez Drive on the city’s heavily-Hispanic south side; the half-mile stretch of 16th Street between National and Greenfield Avenues was re-named in Chavez’s honor in 1996.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez, who represents roughly the same area as Zamarripa, suggested the road be re-named “Dolores Huerta Way” in a Facebook post.
A request for comment from the city’s Cesar Chavez Drive Business Improvement District was not returned.
The Marcus Performing Arts Center has also cancelled it’s planned Cesar Chavez Celebration April 9.
“We will thoughtfully consider future programming that will continue to inspire and uplift the youth of our community, supporting their artistic and creative spirit,” center leaders shared in an emailed statement to WTMJ.
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