Walz signs Farmworkers Day proclamation after Cesar Chavez Day repeal
Minnesota lawmakers fast‑tracked and unanimously passed legislation to repeal Cesar Chavez Day as a state observance after New York Times reporting and Dolores Huerta’s abuse allegations, with the House voting 129–0 and the Senate approving the measure before March 31. Gov. Tim Walz has signed a proclamation recognizing March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day, and community leaders are pressing to rename local streets and a charter school while emphasizing a desire to honor the broader farmworkers’ movement separate from Chavez.
📌 Key Facts
- Minnesota legislative leaders fast‑tracked repeal of Cesar Chavez Day as a state observance in direct response to a New York Times report detailing abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez, including Dolores Huerta’s disclosure; the move drew unusually broad and rapid support.
- The Minnesota House suspended normal procedure and passed the repeal 129–0 (before committee hearings); the Senate committee and then the full Senate approved the repeal unanimously, with lawmakers aiming to complete action before the March 31 observance.
- Gov. Tim Walz’s office said he would sign the repeal as soon as he received it; the governor has since signed a formal proclamation recognizing March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day, replacing Cesar Chavez Day in practice.
- Lawmakers and advocates framed the repeal as an act of empowerment and healing for survivors and said it was meant to send a national message, with supporters including Rep. Maria Isa Perez‑Vega and Sen. John Marty (a co‑author of the original Chavez holiday bill) urging swift action.
- Community and civil‑rights leaders emphasized ‘reclaiming’ the farmworkers’ movement and distancing it from Chavez personally, arguing that the holiday should be redefined to honor the broader farmworkers’ rights movement rather than one individual.
- Local leaders such as Ramona Arreguin de Rosales, Emilia Gonzalez Avalos and Monica Bravo are urging renaming of institutions and places that bear Chavez’s name; active efforts are underway to rename a St. Paul street, a smaller avenue in Minneapolis, and a St. Paul charter school.
- Dolores Huerta’s specific allegation that Chavez abused her when she was in her 30s was highlighted by multiple sources and was a central factor cited by lawmakers and community members pushing for the repeal.
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota's Latino population has grown from approximately 53,000 in 1990 to more than 345,000 in 2021, with immigration being a primary driver, accounting for over 26% of the state's overall population growth in the past 20 years.
Updated: Minnesota's Latinos in numbers—An overview of Minnesota Compass data — MN Compass
From 2020 to 2024, over 81,000 new Americans moved to Minnesota through immigration, making it the leading component of population growth and contributing positively to the state's labor force and economy.
Immigration became the leading component of population growth in Minnesota this decade — Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Latino workers in Minnesota contribute approximately $70 billion to the state's economy, with significant impacts in manufacturing where they are associated with $21 billion in economic activity.
The Latino Economy: A Powerful $70 Billion Engine of Growth in Minnesota — Empowering Strategies
Organizations such as the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs and COPAL advocate for policies like the North STAR Act to protect undocumented immigrants and promote their rights and integration in Minnesota.
Advocacy – COPAL Communities Organizing Latine Power and Action — COPAL
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Gov. Tim Walz has now signed a formal proclamation recognizing March 31, 2026 as Farmworkers Day, replacing Cesar Chavez Day in practice.
- Article emphasizes Minnesota lawmakers, civil‑rights activists and community members are explicitly trying to 'reclaim' the farmworkers’ rights movement while distancing it from Cesar Chavez personally.
- Community leaders such as Monica Bravo (West Side Community Organization) and Ramona Arreguin de Rosales (Academia Cesar Chavez) publicly frame "La Causa" as bigger than one man and stress personal ties to farm labor in places like Hollandale and Albert Lea.
- There are active efforts underway to rename a St. Paul street, a smaller avenue in Minneapolis, and a St. Paul charter school currently bearing Chavez’s name.
- Confirms the Minnesota Senate also approved the repeal on a unanimous vote after the House’s 129–0 passage.
- Clarifies that the repeal bill is now on Gov. Tim Walz’s desk and is expected to take effect before the March 31 Cesar Chavez Day observance.
- Notes that Dolores Huerta specifically disclosed Chavez abused her when she was in her 30s, reinforcing the central allegation behind the repeal push.
- Adds that St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her says the city is actively working to rename a Chavez‑named street while stakeholders seek a new name that still honors the labor movement.
- Confirms the bill has now passed a Minnesota Senate committee, not just the House.
- States that Gov. Tim Walz’s office says he will sign the repeal 'as soon as he receives it.'
- Clarifies that the Senate is expected to hold a full vote this week, making it likely the holiday will be repealed before next Tuesday’s scheduled observance.
- Minnesota House suspended normal procedure and passed the bill to remove Cesar Chavez’s name from the state holiday 129–0, before any committee hearings.
- Legislative leaders say they expect the Senate could pass the bill and the governor could sign it before the March 31 Chavez Day observance arrives in eight days.
- Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega publicly framed the repeal as an act of empowerment and healing for survivors, saying, "This repeal is empowering" and is meant to send a message nationally.
- Sen. John Marty, who co-authored the original Chavez holiday bill, now openly supports pushing the repealer through quickly and says the state should not be "continuing the celebration at this time."
- Emilia Gonzalez Avalos of Unidos Minnesota and Ramona Arreguin de Rosales both stress that no legacy outweighs child safety and that the holiday should ultimately be redefined to honor the broader farmworkers’ movement rather than Chavez personally.
- Ramona Arreguin de Rosales, co‑founder of Academia Cesar Chavez charter school in St. Paul and a key figure in naming Cesar Chavez Street, now publicly supports repealing Cesar Chavez Day.
- Rosales says she is pushing to rename Academia Cesar Chavez and is urging the City of St. Paul to rename Cesar Chavez Street.
- She explicitly references the New York Times reporting and Dolores Huerta’s allegations, saying the community must "stand up and do the right thing" in response.
- Confirms that legislative leaders are fast‑tracking the repeal of Cesar Chavez Day as a state observance rather than letting the bill sit.
- Frames the action explicitly as a direct response to the New York Times’ detailed abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez.
- Highlights that support for repeal is broad and moving with unusual speed compared with typical observance‑day changes.