UFW cancels Cesar Chavez Day events after 'disturbing allegations'

United Farm Workers and the César Chávez Foundation said Tuesday they will abstain from celebrations honoring the late labor leader, citing "disturbing allegations" that involve the possible victimization of "very young women or girls."

The organizations issued separate but related statements Tuesday, stating that they will not organize or participate in events celebrating Cesar Chavez Day, which is typically observed on March 31, on the same day as his birthday.

UFW, which was co-founded by Chávez, encouraged supporters to instead participate in immigration justice events and acts of service to support farmworkers or empower vulnerable people in their communities.

The union said it learned of allegations that Chávez behaved in ways that are incompatible with the organization's values.

"Some of the reports are family issues, and not our story to tell or our place to comment on. Far more troubling are allegations involving abuse of young women or minors," UFW said in a statement. "Allegations that very young women or girls may have been victimized are crushing. We have not received any direct reports, and we do not have any firsthand knowledge of these allegations. However, the allegations are serious enough that we feel compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized to find support and to share their stories if that is what they choose."

The César Chávez Foundation echoed those sentiments, adding its members are "deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing."

Both organizations said they are developing a "safe and confidential process" for individuals to share their experiences of possible harm, and if they choose to, participate in efforts toward repair and reconciliation.

"In addition, we are investing time and resources to ensure the Foundation promotes and strengthens a workplace culture that is safe and welcoming for all," the Foundation said in its statement. "We ask for our community's patience as we learn more. Throughout this process, our organization and our partners in the movement will continue our work together to protect and uplift the families and communities that we serve."

UFW added it will take time to get the process right, which is expected to include trauma-informed services to those who may need it.

"We understand this will be tremendously painful for many and we encourage our community to seek mental health support if they experience distress," UFW said in its statement. "Today's UFW is a modern and progressive labor union and we will seek to learn from our history."

In 2025, Los Angeles commemorated César Chávez Day with a march and rally in Pacoima and a Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, among other events throughout the region.

The Mass served to reflect on the 60th anniversary of the famed Delano Grape Strike. The strike by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, a predominantly Filipino and AFL-CIO-backed labor organization, against table grape growers in the Kern County city about 30 miles north of Bakersfield began on Sept. 8, 1965.

The predominantly Mexican National Farmworkers Association, which Chavez founded alongside Dolores Huerta, joined the strike eight days later. The two groups merged in August 1966 to create United Farm Workers.

The strike and boycott ended in 1970 after 26 table grape growers signed contracts with UFW.

Chávez has been considered an iconic union leader in supporting farm workers' rights. However, his opposition to undocumented immigration has also undermined his image. 

In a 1974 interview with La Paz, Chávez accused agricultural growers and authorities of exploiting undocumented Mexican immigrants as strikebreakers to undermine the UFW union. He claimed that these "illegal workers" were being smuggled into the U.S. to break strikes and weaken the union's efforts. ​

During the interview, Chávez claimed that undocumented migrants were entering the country in large numbers. “We estimate that 60 to 70 percent of the farmworkers in California–of the resident workers—are out of the job because of the wetbacks,” he said. Chávez further asserted that many immigration checkpoints were left "unmanned" by the government intentionally, suggesting this was a deliberate strategy to undermine labor strikes. He also noted that many Mexican citizen farmworkers were frustrated by the influx of undocumented workers, fearing they would take jobs and disrupt union efforts.

Additional reporting by City News Service.