Seattle and King County officials removed César Chávez’s name from a South Park neighborhood park Monday following allegations that the celebrated labor leader sexually abused women and girls throughout his career, including fellow organizer Dolores Huerta.
The decision came at the urging of Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Google Maps already shows the location as “Cesar Chavez Park (new name pending, TBD),” though officials have not explained how the digital change was authorized so quickly.
“Renaming César Chávez Park is not simply about changing signage, it’s about redefining who we choose to honor in shared public spaces and how those choices reflect our values as we are forced to reexamine history. Those values must include standing up for survivors of sexual violence,” Rinck said.
Mosqueda positioned the removal as accountability in action. “The renaming of this park shows that we hear the voices of survivors, share in the demand for accountability, and take seriously our responsibility to confront this history of harm, no matter who the perpetrator is,” Mosqueda said.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson supported the decision, saying parks belong to communities and naming choices matter when they cause pain. “When a name causes pain, we have a responsibility to act. I’m grateful to Councilmembers Rinck and Mosqueda for their leadership, and I look forward to working with the South Park community to choose a new name that reflects our values,” Wilson said.
The park removal follows other Seattle actions last week, including renaming a community garden that honored Chávez and removing tributes at the El Centro de la Raza building. The changes stem from a New York Times investigation that detailed allegations Chávez sexually abused women and girls during his decades leading the United Farm Workers union.
The revelations have triggered a national reassessment. California leaders are backing legislation to rename César Chávez Day as Farmworkers Day, while communities across the country review streets, schools, and monuments bearing his name. In Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson announced he will not issue the traditional proclamation for César Chávez Day this year and instead plans to celebrate Dolores Huerta Day on April 10.
Officials promised inclusive community engagement to select a new name for the park, though they offered no timeline for the process.
