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Democratic state lawmakers pressed Monday for quick repeal of a law celebrating the late labor movement leader César Chavez following reports that he’d sexually abused women and girls.

A group of legislators and community leaders said the Legislature should take rapid action to pull the 

 from the books. They said they would move to declare an urgency on Monday to bring the bill up for a vote in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Lawmakers are busy this week to have committees act on policy bills in the narrowly split Legislature. Despite that DFL leaders said they were hopeful they could advance it through agreement with Republicans to accelerate consideration. 

The New York Times published a lengthy investigative story last week that included on-the-record accusations of rape and child sexual abuse by women who worked around Chavez in the farm worker rights movement. Chavez died in 1993.

Efforts are also underway in St. Paul to rename a road and a school named after Chavez. Mayor Kaohly Vang Her said those could take longer as city officials are aiming to draw community feedback on which name should replace Chavez in those spaces.

Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega, DFL-St. Paul, said many are still reeling from the news of allegations against Chavez. But she said it’s important that Minnesota lawmakers work together to drop the holiday in his honor.

“It was gutting. It still is. We're grieving but when we grieve, we don't let go of each other. We actually hold on to each other even stronger. And this is not a weakness for us,” Pérez-Vega said. “This repeal is empowering, and it's to show strength and to leave a message for not just Minnesotans, but across the nation right now, to speak up, take action, and let's bring healing.”

Emilia González Avalos, executive director of Unidos Minnesota, said it’s important that the state take action.

“Honoring our history does not mean we stop telling the truth about it. It means that we tell the whole truth because our communities, especially our children, deserve nothing less,” González Avalos said. 

“Repealing César Chavez Day is about drawing a clear line that no legacy, no matter how powerful, no matter how important, stands above the safety and dignity of our children and our community,” she continued. “We can honor farm workers. We can honor the movement — La Causa. We can honor the struggle of labor rights, but we don't have to enshrine a single figure in a way that leaves no room for truth, complexity or accountability.”

Gov. Tim Walz told WCCO Radio last week that he plans to withhold an annual proclamation but he can't make the law change independently. Instead, it would be up to state lawmakers.

"This certainly clouds that legacy, and we should reassess it,” Walz said. “I would hope they would do something on that, but we won't be putting out anything. And I just want to make sure I stay in line with what the Legislature and statute says."

Governors in other states that observe Chavez's birthday have said they will not do so this year in light of the accusations. 

If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, there is a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. You can call 

 confidential, bilingual crisis line at 651-772-1611.

Use the audio player above to hear a conversation with Minnesota Now host Nina Moini and Rep. Pérez-Vega.

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Following allegations that the late labor leader sexually abused women and girls, state lawmakers said they would work to repeal a Minnesota law honoring César Chavez.

Minn. lawmakers push to repeal César Chavez Day following rape allegations

A mural of labor leader Cesar Chavez is seen 

Minn. lawmakers push to repeal César Chavez Day following rape allegations

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