Rep. Paiz Says Erasing Cesar Chavez Day Is Not Enough, Advocates Renaming It to Farmworkers Day

LANSING, Mich., April 29, 2026 — State Rep. Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) yesterday introduced substitute legislation to a bill (HB 5836) proposing to remove Cesar Chavez Day from state law. Rep. Paiz’s substitute legislation would have instead replaced the observance with Farmworkers Day, honoring the broader farmworkers’ rights movement and the communities who have carried it forward.

“The sweat, sacrifice and tears of the farmworkers’ rights movement cannot be defined, or dismissed, by the actions and legacy of any single individual,” Rep. Paiz said today during her speech. “The movement lives on in people — in those who were once children and young workers, and who now stand as adults. Not as reminders of the past, but as resilient, dignified members of our communities. They are the children of farmworkers, and of the movement itself.”

On March 18, 2026, an investigative report by The New York Times presented extensive evidence that Cesar Chavez sexually abused young girls and women involved in the United Farm Workers (UFW) movement, which he led. As a widely respected leader, Chavez was trusted and revered by many within the movement. These revelations have since sparked a broader public debate about how to address institutions and honors that bear his name and legacy, particularly in light of the farmworkers’ rights movement he helped lead.

Rep. Paiz emphasized that while removing Chavez’s name from state law is a necessary step, it is not enough on its own. She argued that true accountability and justice must also recognize the sacrifice, history and enduring impact of the farmworkers’ movement — one that extends far beyond any single individual.

“Erasing a name is only the beginning,” Rep. Paiz continued. “If we only remove a name, we risk centering this moment on one individual, rather than on the people and their communities who deserve to be honored. This is why my substitute legislation replaces Cesar Chavez Day with Farmworkers Day — so we place the focus where it belongs: on the people and the enduring legacy of the farmworkers’ movement itself.”

The farmworkers’ drive for workers’ rights, largely led by UFW since the early 1960s, remains active today, continuing the fight for dignity, safety and fairness in the workplace. Rep. Paiz’s substitute bill sought to ensure that the legacy of farmworkers’ rights is recognized through the collective contributions of the workers, families and advocates who have shaped and sustained it.

While the substitute legislation was not adopted on the House floor, the Representative indicated she will continue working with colleagues in the state Senate and other stakeholders to advance this policy.

Representative Paiz is a member of the Michigan Latino Legislative Caucus and the Midwest Executive Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

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