He was a champion of the civil rights movement and a hero to many Latinos. On memorials across the United States, his name was chiseled in stone, and his likeness cast in bronze.
Today, he is a pariah.
On Wednesday, a New York Times investigation revealed that Cesar Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union, sexually abused women and girls, including the union’s co-founder, Dolores Huerta. In the days since, cities, states and schools have sought to erase their associations with him.
Statues have been covered, and festivals canceled. But that is only the beginning, as Chavez’s name is connected with countless buildings, parks and schools. Here are images of the initial steps to tear down memorials to the man, who died in 1993, and instead highlight the movement that he started and that others now carry on.
Jacey Fortin covers a wide range of subjects for The Times, including extreme weather, court cases and state politics across the country.
The post Public References to Cesar Chavez Are Being Removed Across the U.S. appeared first on New York Times.
