# Abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 18, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555 "2026-03-18T18:42:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/62 "2026-03-19T02:43:07Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > You could just read the article in the OP before you make guesses about the evidence. When I went there another way it was paywalled, I see now it was a gift link. So, we do have names. And it seems like the Time might have that evidence. This is sad. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/63 "2026-03-19T03:44:49Z")
Our school district has two middle schools. One is named for Larry Itliong. The other, the one my son went to, is named for Cesar Chavez. I don’t know what’s going to happen, the district hasn’t made any announcements yet. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/64 "2026-03-19T04:57:01Z")
On the issue of places named for Chavez: if authorities decide to change the names of those places, I hope they don’t go for a different person’s name, even if it’s another farm worker’s union leader or someone like that. I think this experience once again points out the folly of naming public institutions and places for individuals, because of how often they show up with feet of clay. I’m not sure what good alternatives are, but I think they should be explored. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/65 "2026-03-19T05:27:57Z")
(And how do we know that Larry Itliong, whom I never heard of until a few hours ago, didn’t do this too?) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/66 "2026-03-19T14:21:04Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I think this experience once again points out the folly of naming public institutions and places for individuals, because of how often they show up with feet of clay. But that is something we carry over from how for centuries we’ve used “Great Man History” and celebration of heroes and canonized saints as something you do as a matter of course because just teaching values/ideologies in the abstract is too, well, abstract. Holding up an icon to be venerated or pointing to an exemplar to be imitated is more relatable. People want to rally behind a leader with a face and a voice, or behind her/his memory. We live however in a world where EVERYTHING is exposed and everyone feels entitled to judge. We do need to settle on just how will we adjust to that. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/67 "2026-03-19T15:35:33Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/68 "2026-03-19T15:38:07Z")
I’m impressed with how no one is really defending him including his family and the organization that he founded. My city of Santa Barbara already has a motion in the City Council to change back the name of Calle Caesar Chavez. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/69 "2026-03-19T15:55:53Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > On the issue of places named for Chavez: if authorities decide to change the names of those places, I hope they don’t go for a different person’s name, even if it’s another farm worker’s union leader or someone like that. I kind of agree, but I also think it’s important to replace his name with something that still honors Latino workers. The renaming of the streets for Chavez in San Francisco and Portland was a big deal for the community, it would suck to completely take that away, ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/70 "2026-03-19T16:01:27Z")
Why not just name the Plazas, streets, schools, etc., after the organizations instead of individual leaders? Not reducing the importance of good leadership and standout individuals, but change takes an entire organizational effort. UFW Plaza, SNCC Elementary, and La Raza Day sound perfectly fine to me. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/71 "2026-03-19T16:02:18Z")
I’m holding out hope for Calle Dolores Huerta, especially after they shot down changing the name of San Andres street for her a couple years ago. We finally got rid of Indio Muerto, we can do it again! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/72 "2026-03-19T16:07:27Z")
I agree. Oscar Gutierrez is leading the charge but no word on if it’s just going back to S. Salsipuedes or something else. They are talking about Caesar Chavez Day being renamed Farm Worker’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/73 "2026-03-19T16:11:11Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I’m impressed with how no one is really defending him including his family and the organization that he founded. This suggests to me that they were already aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/74 "2026-03-19T16:12:26Z")
On a related note, I once read that high-profile heroes for a particular cause (like Chavez, or directors of do-good nonprofits, etc.) can be mentally susceptible to misdeeds or predatory behavior because of one of two mindsets, either a sort of mental tally of “I’ve done so much good for the world that I’m allowed to do some bad, too,” or an attitude of “I’m genuinely a good guy, everyone thinks I’m a hero, therefore even the bad things I do are actually good things.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/75 "2026-03-19T16:12:59Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They are talking about Caesar Chavez Day being renamed Farm Worker’s Day. That sounds like a solid upgrade to the name. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/76 "2026-03-19T16:13:02Z")
Absolutely. There supposedly have been rumors for a while and I bet the NYT asked for comment so they got a bit of warning. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/77 "2026-03-19T16:16:20Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > On a related note, I once read that high-profile heroes for a particular cause (like Chavez, or directors of do-good nonprofits, etc.) can be mentally susceptible to misdeeds or predatory behavior because of one of two mindsets I’m sure everyone who does shitty things comes up with some rationale to allow them to sleep at night. I don’t think I accept that people who do good things are any more “mentally susceptible of misdeeds” than the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/78 "2026-03-19T16:17:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This. Not to excuse it, but let’s recognize the reality of human nature, especially for men (yes, men) in power…and frankly for female underlings who are impressed by that power. This has been true throughout history! It’s one thing to say that famous and powerful men are often able to command female attention in whatever way they want, and the men are not always strong enough to behave with integrity. It’s skeevy, but if it’s consensual, whatever. But when we’re talking about minors or non-consensual encounters, obviously that’s not something that can get any kind of pass. Having groupies is one thing, raping them is a whole other ballgame (a criminal assault ballgame). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/79 "2026-03-19T16:18:39Z")
What would it be changed back into? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/80 "2026-03-19T16:26:30Z")
The original name was South Salsipuedes. North Salsipuedes still exists. “Sal si puedes” is Spanish for “leave if you can” so named because it used to be along a marsh and would regularly flood. It’s in kind of an industrial zone now and the rescue mission is there. It’s one of the places where day laborers line up or did before the ICE raids. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555/81 "2026-03-19T16:27:33Z")
I like names with historical signifigance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-allegations-against-cesar-chavez/1028555.md?page=5)