California students march for Cesar Chavez amid rape allegations

Children at a San Diego elementary school marched in Cesar Chavez’s name on Wednesday despite disturbing rape allegations emerging about the revered labor leader.

Students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School took to the streets as news of the bombshell sexual assault scandal ricocheted around the state.

“I am a student that can help change laws, make things fair, like Cesar Chavez did for us,” students wrote in a poem for their classmates, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

It’s unclear why the march was allowed to proceed, as California leaders reacted to to horrific details of Chavez allegedly raping three females, including two who were underage at the time.

Some school districts in San Diego balked at taking any action, as California lawmakers weighed renaming tributes in Chavez’s honor and canceling Cesar Chavez Day on March 31.

The San Diego Unified School District had not made a decision as of Wednesday on renaming Cesar Chavez Elementary School, the Union-Tribune reported.

The founders of Cesar Chavez Service Clubs in San Diego, which teach leadership skills to young people and hosts tours in Washington, DC, said they would move forward with their annual fundraising breakfast next week.

“In light of these issues, our upcoming breakfast has taken on an even greater significance,” Linda and Carlos LeGerrette said in a statement. “This is a time for us to come together as a community and make space for one another and process this news collectively.”

California leaders across the state are considering or in the process of renaming parks, streets, buildings and other monuments bearing Chavez’s name.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that he was still “processing” the allegations against Chavez.

“I think all of us are processing it. And, you know, and just these kids have to process it now. I mean, I think there’s … three dozen schools in the state are named after César Chávez. I don’t know [how many are in the] community, in the country,” he said.

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