Board renames Cesar Chavez holiday “Farmworkers Day,” orders community‑driven review of Chavez‑named assets

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on March 24 voted 5‑0 to rename the County holiday honoring Cesar Chavez as “Farmworkers Day” and to direct a community‑driven process for reviewing County parks, buildings, streets and public art that currently bear Cesar Chavez’s name.

Chair Hilda Solis, who introduced the motions co‑authored by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, said the actions respond to survivor testimony and the need to center those harmed. “Survivors must be listened to with care, treated with dignity, and supported through processes that ensure their voices are never dismissed,” Solis said as she outlined two motions: (1) rename the March County holiday beginning this year, and (2) have the Chief Executive Office and County Counsel develop a community‑led process with a report back in 21 days to consider renaming parks, streets, monuments and other County programs and imagery that bear Cesar Chavez’s name.

The motions direct the county to issue guidance to departments for the March holiday (including removing Chavez’s name and likeness from holiday‑related events and materials) and to craft an outreach plan described as multilingual, culturally competent and trauma‑informed. Supervisors emphasized that the proposed changes are intended to refocus recognition on the collective legacy of farmworkers — including leaders not widely commemorated in public names — and to ensure healing and inclusion for survivors and communities such as Filipino farmworker families.

Public testimony included labor groups, Filipino‑American organizations, survivor‑support advocates and local unions. Speakers asked that the county preserve the contributions of Filipino farmworkers and other under‑recognized organizers while ensuring survivors’ accounts are central to any renaming. Several speakers urged moving the holiday’s date away from Chavez’s birthday and recommended September 8, the anniversary of the Delano grape strike, as an alternative date to emphasize the movement’s origins.

County staff told the Board they have begun an inventory of county assets and civic art that may have Chavez‑related names or imagery, and that some immediate steps — such as removing internal displays and renaming some program landing pages — already had been taken by libraries and parks departments. The Board asked the Chief Executive Office to work with cities, schools, and community partners in the review.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the motions. The actions will be implemented under the direction of the Chief Executive Office with departmental guidance and reports back to the Board as requested.