TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The City of Tucson has announced it will observe March 30 this year as “Dolores Huerta Day,” dropping the use of César Chávez’s name for the city holiday amid renewed scrutiny and allegations of sexual abuse against the late labor leader. The update has been made on the City's official site, which states 'the holiday will be observed on the final Monday or the final Friday in March, whichever is closest in time to March 31.' It was also shared in a recent Facebook post from the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility:
In a statement to KGUN, Mayor Regina Romero said, "I spoke with City Manager Thomure about changing the name quickly because of the urgency involved. Dolores Huerta co-founded a movement that continues to inspire, which is why her name was already part of our City holiday. The current name change is only meant to apply this year. I have already asked for a Mayor and Council conversation at our April 7 meeting about reaching a community-informed long-term resolution."
Romero, who previously led the effort to recognize Chávez with a city holiday and who in 2025 helped add Dolores Huerta’s name to the local observance, had recently said on March 18 that the city was looking at how to address the holiday's name while keeping celebrations to honor farm workers and the movement.
“Movements for peace and justice and equality are not centered on one individual," Romero said at that time. "It is a collective movement that we all take a part of and form in."
City crews have also removed or covered public dedications to Chávez. On Saturday, I was at the site of the Chávez statue that had been vandalized, and I got some of the final footage ever taken of the statue:
Only two days later, that statue had been removed by the City.
Related: Cesar Chavez statue vandalized in Tucson
The name change comes after public accusations have prompted a local reckoning over Chávez’s legacy. The allegations — which have been made public in recent coverage and have included statements from people who worked with Chávez — spurred unions, community groups and city leaders in Tucson to pause celebrations and rebrand planned events. The Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Holiday Coalition canceled a planned march and retooled its weekend events.
Related: Cesar Chavez statue removed in Barrio Viejo following vandalism and recent sexual abuse allegations
Dolores Huerta, a long-time co‑leader in the farmworker movement and previously honored alongside Chávez in Tucson, has been central to the local conversation; the city had already been among the few to celebrate Huerta alongside Chávez during recent observances. The allegations and resulting community response — including the University Farm Workers’ withdrawal from some events — prompted city officials to act quickly to change how the holiday will be observed locally this year.
On March 18, Huerta issued a statement on Facebook about the allegations against Chavez and her own experiences.
Related: 'I can no longer stay silent:' Dolores Huerta issues statement on Chavez
Born April 10, 1930, Huerta is an American labor leader and civil rights activist who co‑founded the National Farmworkers Association with César Chávez—a group that later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). For decades she organized farmworkers, helped lead strikes and boycotts like the Delano grape strike, negotiated contracts to improve wages and working conditions, and advocated for immigrants’ and women’s rights. Huerta is widely credited with popularizing the rallying cry “Sí, se puede,” and her lifelong activism has earned many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, making her one of the most influential figures in U.S. labor and social‑justice history.
City offices will be closed in observance of the holiday; the mayor’s office and city staff say they are reviewing other city property and dedications bearing Chávez’s name as part of the response.
