Cities are moving to take down monuments, memorials and street signs honoring César Chávez. Organizers are cancelling the annual events planned In honor of his March 31 birthday. While his contributions for migrant farmworkers and Chicano-Americans are indisputable, Chávez’ heroic status among those he fought for is now challenged by troubling allegations surfacing in a New York Times investigation decades after the fact. We’ll discuss the future of the movement Chávez is best known for, likely going forward without his name. We’ll also discuss any lessons his downfall may have for the tendency to build a cause around one man.

GUESTS

Brenda Nicolas (Zapotec), assistant professor in the Department of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Irvine

Arcenio Lopez (Ñuu Savi), executive director of the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP)

Desiree Tody (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Ashland and Bayfield County outreach program coordinator for the Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse

Joaquín Baca, Albuquerque City Councilor for district 2

Break 1 Music: Healing Song (song) Red Hawk Medicine Drum (artist) New Beginnings (album)

Break 2 Music: Hard Times Will Be Coming (song) Courtney Yellow Fat (artist) The Lost Songs of Sitting Bull (album)

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 – A movement assesses the legacy for César Chávez