The New York Times investigation revealing that the labor leader Cesar Chavez had sexually abused young girls for years set off reverberations even before it was published on Wednesday.
The United Farm Workers of America, which Mr. Chavez co-founded, said on Tuesday that it was canceling its annual celebrations for its former leader on his March 31 birthday, and that it would establish a channel in the coming weeks for anyone who was harmed by the labor leader to share their experiences.
“These allegations have been profoundly shocking,” the organization said in a statement on Tuesday. “We need some time to get this right.”
Several parades have already been canceled, including in Austin, Texas, and Tucson, Ariz. Regina Romero, the mayor of Tucson, said on Tuesday she was “personally devastated by the serious abuse allegations” against Mr. Chavez.
Several states recognize Cesar Chavez Day as an official holiday honoring the activist who for decades was the face of farmworker and Latino civil rights in the country, before his death is 1993. On Tuesday, however, Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona became the first governor to say that her state would stop recognizing the holiday. It was not immediately clear whether other states would follow suit.
Across the nation, dozens of schools and streets are named for Mr. Chavez, most of them in California.
Susan Leal, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, led the push in 1995 for Army Street in San Francisco to be renamed Cesar Chavez Street. Ms. Leal said on Wednesday that she had contacted the current supervisors to urge them to change the name again, perhaps to Dolores Huerta Street.
“My hope is there will be no hesitation,” she said. “I’m not sad about a street name. I’m sad about the girls.”
Soumya Karlamangla is a Times reporter who covers California. She is based in the Bay Area.
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