From the Office of Board Member Kelly Gonez
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 24, 2026) — Today, the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education unanimously approved steps to celebrate Farm Workers Day, rename schools, revamp instruction, and remove murals and statutes that previously focused on Cesar Chavez, following the revelations of his repeated sexual abuse and assault of women and minors, including civil rights icon Dolores Huerta. Board Member Kelly Gonez authored the resolution, and all Board Members joined as cosponsors.
The resolution affirmed the Board’s support for survivors and their stories, condemned sexual violence of any kind, and includes steps to ensure training for both employees and students to protect against such abuse. The resolution also established that schools in San Fernando and El Sereno will undergo name changes by the fall of 2026. March 31, 2026 will be recognized as Farm Workers Day.
“This resolution sent a clear message that we stand with survivors, including Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas and Esmeralda Lopez and will do everything within our power to fight for an end to the cycle of sexual violence and abuse that affects so many girls and women,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “We are taking immediate steps to protect and support our students, staff, and families and ensure our names and celebrations reflect our values. We will continue to celebrate the advancements from the Farm Workers Movement that have advanced the causes of workers’ rights, immigrants’ rights, and human rights and include those important lessons in our instructional program.”
“With the passage of this resolution, we reaffirm our commitment to honor the dignity, contributions, and lived experiences of farmworkers both past and present,” Acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said. “Renaming Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Workers Day reflects a broader recognition of the communities whose labor sustains us and whose stories must be centered in our schools. This moment is also an opportunity to thoughtfully reflect on how we name our spaces and ensure they align with our values of respect, inclusion, and truth. Los Angeles Unified stands with survivors and remains committed to creating learning environments where every student feels safe, seen, and supported.”
“I want to commend the bravery of Dolores Huerta, Debra Rojas, and Ana Murguia and solidify that Los Angeles Unified stands with them,” Board President Scott M. Schmerelson said. “While the news concerning Cesar Chavez might have been difficult for many, the movement goes beyond any one person. Thousands of people protested, boycotted, and made a difference for better working and living conditions. I think it is more than fitting that we take a day to reflect on their work and recognize the collective contribution of farm workers. I also support renaming any LAUSD building that bears Cesar Chavez’s name, allowing the community to identify better with the District that serves them. Let this also serve as a message that survivors’ words do make a difference. If you are a survivor of assault, please reach out to a trusted adult at the District, and we will have resources ready for you.”
“As we honor the farmworker movement as a collective legacy rooted in dignity and justice, we make clear: we will always choose truth, and we will always choose survivors,” Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas said.
“As a lifelong educator and proud product of Los Angeles Unified, I believe deeply in our responsibility to create schools where every student feels safe, valued, and heard,” Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill said. “This resolution reflects our commitment to confronting difficult truths with honesty and leading with integrity. We honor the courage of survivors and affirm that we will not ignore the truth. As we uplift the collective legacy of the Farm Workers’ Movement, we reaffirm that our schools must be spaces of trust, accountability, and learning.”
“I’m proud to co-sponsor this resolution and stand with survivors, whose courage in coming forward demands accountability and swift action,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “We can honor the farmworkers’ movement while being clear that abuse and violence have no place in our schools or in the legacies we uplift for our students. Today’s Board action helps ensure that our school communities reflect our values and prioritize safety.”
“These unfortunate revelations call on us to stand up for those who cannot, to listen with compassion, and to create space for truth and healing,” Board Member Karla Griego said. “As educational leaders, we must ensure our schools are safe, supportive environments by prioritizing trauma-informed training for staff and adequate mental health resources so we can truly support our students every day. Our commitment to center the most vulnerable students and families requires ongoing reflection, accountability, and a collective effort towards true healing and transformation.”
“No girl, no woman, no mother should ever have to endure abuse and especially not in silence nor silenced for decades,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “I stand with Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, Esmeralda Lopez, my board member colleagues, and every fellow survivor, and I remain committed to healing and care in LA Unified and in our world. By replacing murals of Cesar Chavez, changing school names and honoring farmworkers this March 31st, we affirm that the movements for social change have always been and will continue to be about justice, respect and dignity. #WithSurvivorsAlways”
