Cesar Chavez Mural Painted Over in San Francisco Amid Growing Fallout from Abuse Allegations
A mural depicting labor leader Cesar Chavez in San Francisco’s Mission District was painted over on Wednesday at the Latin Rock Music House at 25th and York Streets, following a New York Times investigation alleging Chavez sexually abused women and girls connected to the United Farm Workers movement. Building owner Richard Segovia and artist Carlos “Kookie” Gonzalez removed the mural, and Gonzalez said a planned new Chavez mural has been revised to instead center Dolores Huerta, who has said she was among those harmed. Institutions and cities are also reassessing Chavez commemorations: the California Museum in Sacramento said it plans to remove him from the California Hall of Fame (an honor he has held since 2006), and Denver removed a Chavez bust and announced plans to strip his name from a park and a civic holiday pending City Council approval. San Francisco State University is moving to temporarily cover a Chavez mural and rename a student center that has carried his name for decades.
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This story was covered in Restitution Reckonings and Biennale Blowups