Bias • March 31st, 2026

Media Bias Alert: The Movement to Cancel César Chávez

Media Bias Alert,Cancel Culture,Sexual Assault

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Just weeks before César Chávez Day, the New York Times (Lean Left bias) published the story, “Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years” exposing his alleged history of sexual abuse towards both women and underage girls throughout his life.

Dolores Huerta, his ex-wife and a cofounder of the United Farm Workers movement, also disclosed Chávez’s abuse of her, largely putting a moratorium on Cesar Chavez Day celebrations. It’s a potentially historic shift in public perception of a formerly-revered figure, in terms of expediency from both social media and policy response at the local and state level.

How the Left and Right are Covering It

Outlets on the Left

While there were no predominant narratives or perspectives amongst outlets on the left, outlets on the left typically exhibited one of the following:

Burying the lede — noting the type of abuse César Chávez is accused of below the headlines and framing the abuse as Dolores Huerta’s claims
Emphasizing the sexual abuse allegations (at times without noting it’s alleged) and focusing on the perspectives of the victims as a whole

Burying the Lede

Politico (Lean Left) wrote, “César Chávez allegations jolt California’s labor movement” opting to forego mentioning the type of allegations levied against Chavez in the headline – bias by omission. Additionally, the outlet framed the alleged sexual abuse as “inappropriate sexual behavior” and wrote sympathetic framing to (ex)supporters of César Chávez, noting the “painful soul-searching” they must go through moving forward.

Axios (Lean Left) published the headline, “César Chávez allegations spark reckoning over legacy” and, much like Politico, opted to omit the type of allegations in the headline. The article also shifts perspective away from the victims throughout the piece and instead focuses on “Chavez’s legacy,” ending with a hopeful outlook that the “farmworker movement [will grow] beyond a single figure.”

Leading with Sexual Abuse Claims

Slate (Left) wrote, “Cesar Chavez Was a Human Rights Icon. Allegedly, He Was Also Some Women’s Worst Nightmare” and quickly framed him as an abuser “like so many abusers before him” in the byline. The outlet furthers this framing through later comparisons with Epstein, writing:

“But the Chavez reporting still comes as a demoralizing reminder, in the midst of the Epstein files fallout, that people in every corner of society, no matter how virtuous they may seem, are capable of committing unimaginable cruelty and justifying it to themselves.”

NPR (Lean Left) published the piece, “Cesar Chavez abused and raped women and girls, NYT investigation says.” This framing is notably different from several headlines from outlets on the left, as it directly addresses the allegations with source attribution. However, by leading with the accusations, the outlet gives credence and authority to the claims.

Outlets on the Right

These outlets typically emphasized the sexual abuse accusations in headlines and framed the controversy as an inherent loss to the Democratic party.

“Criticize the Left”

Fox News (Right) wrote the headline, “Dems face reckoning after putting deceased labor leader on pedestal as sexual abuse allegations emerge,” slanting the narrative to focus on Democrats, instead of Chavez alone. Additionally, the outlet platformed an anonymous GOP strategist who opined the following mudslinging comments:

"The hypocrisy is rich, and Democrats’ praise for an abuser and rapist has-been is now exposed…[a]ny refusal to apologize or retract statements will be taken as Democrats supporting his disgusting behavior."

Washington Times (Lean Right) wrote, “Left turns on Cesar Chavez after horrific allegations of rape, sexual abuse,” slanting the accusations through a partisan lens while further spinning the story as a Democrat failure, much like Fox News, through the following:

“California Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, signed a law in 2000 declaring March 31 a state holiday in honor of Chavez.”
“President Obama, seeking to deepen ties to Hispanic voters, declared a Cesar Chavez commemorative day and, in 2012, created the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, adding Chavez’s home to the National Park Service system.”

The Daily Wire (Right) published the slanted headline, “Left-Wing Icon Accused Of Serially Sexually Abusing Young Girls,” and continued the right’s negative framing towards the Democratic Party. For example, the outlet wrote, “prominent Democrats scrambled to condemn Chavez, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously said a photo of the union leader is ‘the first photo’ he ‘wake[s] up to.’” The outlet thus frames Democrats as unprepared, while framing Governor Newsom as potentially hypocritical or a bad judge of character for having a close relationship with Chavez.

How Spanish- and English-Language Outlets are Covering the Story

Typically, Spanish outlets did not differ in any substantial way to English outlets. There was no stronger bias in support of Chavez, or the labor movement as a whole when compared to English outlets rated Left.

Spanish Outlets:

Univision (Left) wrote, “Cambio de nombre del Día de César Chávez en California solo espera por la firma de Gavin Newsom” (“The renaming of César Chávez Day is only waiting for Gavin Newsom's signature”). The outlet focuses on the victims of abuse, including Dolores Huerta, as well as on the political implications these accusations have resulted in as California was the first to declare César Chávez Day as a holiday; leaving California in a unique policy space to act quickly in.

Telemundo (Lean Left) published the headline, “Dolores Huerta acusa de abuso sexual al fallecido César Chávez, su excompañero de lucha por los derechos de los campesinos: ‘Mi silencio termina aquí’” (“Dolores Huerta acuses the late César Chávez, her excompanion in the fight for farmworker’s rights, of sexual abuse: ‘My silence ends here’”).

The outlet centered on Dolores Huerta’s claims as well as those made by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who claimed: “Aunque sean desgarradoras las revelaciones que exponen a los líderes como seres imperfectos más allá de la absolución, una sociedad justa tiene el deber de buscar la rendición de cuentas para los abusadores sin excepción alguna” (“Even though the revelations that expose leaders as imperfect beings beyond absolution are heartbreaking, a just society has a duty to seek accountability for all abusers without exception”).

La Opinion (Left) wrote, “Cancelan celebraciones de César Chávez en medio de acusaciones de abuso sexual” (“César Chávez celebrations are cancelled amid sexual abuse accusations”). The outlet largely reported on the United Farm Workers’ response to the allegations and the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s collaboration with UFW to establish services for victims of abuse moving forward.

How is Coverage Different from Other Commemorated Figures?

While the allegations against César Chávez are serious, they are far from unique. The Epstein files controversy, and the public’s fixation on Trump’s connection to them, are but the most recent of similar alleged crimes. AllSides conducted an analysis of media and policy reactions to backlash from controversy of several types of commemorated figures, including:

Politicians: Thomas Jefferson, Donald J. Trump
Activists: Martin Luther King Jr., Muhamat Gandhi
Historical Figures: Cecil Rhodes, Christopher Columbus

NOTE: When bringing historical circumstances into the modern day it is important to make note of the philosophical framework used: presentism. By seeking to interpret the past through a modern lens we tend to ignore the historical context by which people lived and made decisions. The purpose of this comparison is to showcase how reactions have shifted over time towards lionized individuals, in order to determine whether César Chávez is being treated ‘unfairly.’

Politicians

Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, although historically obscured, is no longer hidden. Moreover, the fact that Sally Hemings was a slave and servant to Thomas Jeffferson and that she gave birth to several of his children is debatably historical canon now. When their relationship is looked back on today, several onlookers – particularly from the left – cast doubt on the viability of Hemings to consent to sex with her legal owner. When considering the acceptance and prevalence of commemoration for Thomas Jefferson, it is arguable that alleged or confirmed cases of rape may not damage Jefferson’s image or bring a reckoning akin to César Chávez.

Looking to a more recent example, Donald J. Trump (the 47th President of the United States) has undergone extensive scrutiny and legal proceedings regarding his alleged and confirmed sexual abuse. Most notably was Trump’s legal battle with E. Jean Carroll, where Trump was found liable of sexual abuse and defamation. The consequences amongst the public and policy field were widespread, however it did not impact Trump’s ability to win a second presidential term. Moreover, Trump has received several honors after his allegations, including:

Activists

Martin Luther King Jr. is perhaps the most celebrated civil rights leader in the modern day, especially so after recent allegations levied against César Chávez. However, MLK is not without his own allegations, particularly regarding his alleged witnessing of a rape and subsequent encouragement of the act. The key difference here is the reliance on FBI notations written on the margins of documents regarding MLK; in short, the evidence is simply not as convincing as that against Chávez. Additionally, the FBI at the time was working to discredit MLK, making documents procured during this time period substantially less convincing.

Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps the most influential civil rights leader, has received a more critical examination of his life in the modern day. Of particular note is Gandhi’s documented racism as evidenced by his calling of Africans as “Kaffirs” (a racial slur), and his purported sexism tying the woman’s role to a traditional lens. This has resulted in his statue removed from the University of Ghana in Africa and another vandalized in Australia. As such, there is precedent for the cancellation of a public activist figure, much like Chávez.

Historical Figures

Christopher Columbus is best known for his connection of the Old and New World including the colloquial, yet misattributed, discovery of America. Following the Black Lives Matter movement, a reexamination of colonial historical figures led to the vandalization and destruction of several Christopher Columbus statues:

However, while the removals of these statues may parallel the removal of Chávez’s statues and other monuments; these removals are actively being reversed by the Trump administration – as evidenced by the Christopher Columbus statue placed at the White House.

Cecil Rhodes, former Prime Minister of the Cape Colony in South Africa, was to be commemorated with a statue at the University of Cape Town, much to the University student’s chagrin. Rhodes was a British colonist and as Simukai Chigudu (Not Rated) wrote for The Guardian (Left), “[c]olonialism and racism are entwined” and “Rhodes’s imperial philosophy was unabashedly supremacist, and he detested Africans.” #RhodesMustFall thus quickly became a viral protest movement which ultimately led to the removal of the statue. In this case, the history was already known, and through the protests and vandalization of the statue, the university abided by their student body and removed this commemoration to Cecil Rhodes.

The Cancellation of César Chávez

César Chávez’s name is being removed, or considered for removal, from public spaces ranging from public parks to street names across California. Additionally, California has moved to change school curricula to “minimize Chávez’s role in the civil rights movement,” much like Texas has declared the suspension or discouragement of instruction or activities related to César Chávez, signalling a potential nationwide effort to remove Chávez from school curricula.

Missing Perspective in Media

César Chávez’s activism led to general improvements in wages, working conditions, and general political power for thousands of immigrants, regardless of nationality or race. However, as the New York Times (Lean Left) reports, “To Address Farm Labor Shortage, Trump Administration Turns to Migrant Workers,” the Trump administration has opened the way for wage deductions to return, leading to the UFW suing the Trump administration, for allegedly circumventing discussions with key stakeholders “as required by the Administrative Procedure Act.”

Policy efforts that indirectly undermine César Chávez’s and the UFW’s work are coupled with: increased funding for ICE, increased surveillance from ICE, and increased mortality risk under ICE detention — and in observance of ICE activities.

As is the case with any scandal involving a national figure: narratives are bound to be split, framing will be sensational, and individuals will inevitably take sides. Read your news accordingly, and keep our Types of Media Bias guide handy.

Emanuel Macuixtle is a Policy Analyst and Research Assistant at AllSides. He has a Left bias.

Reviewed by Editor-in-Chief Henry A. Brechter (Center), Content Intern Gabriel James (Center), and News Analyst & Social Media Editor Malayna J. Bizier (Right)

Media Bias Alert,Cancel Culture,Sexual Assault