Educators call for deeper reflection after Cesar Chavez allegations
From Education Beat by EdSource
April 23, 2026
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of sexual abuse allegations against César Chávez and how educational institutions are responding.
Last month Fresno State University held a celebration for César Chávez with baile folklórico dances, speeches and flowers placed on his statue in the campus peace garden. Just a few days later, a bombshell New York Times investigation was published, exposing evidence that Chávez sexually abused women and girls as young as 12. Within hours, Fresno State covered the statue of Chávez with black plastic and days later removed it entirely. Other colleges and schools in California made similar changes. As colleges and schools remove Chavez's name from buildings and holidays, some educators are raising deeper questions about how schools can confront underlying issues of power, sexism, sexual violence and historical legacy. Guests: Larissa Mercado-López, chair of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Fresno State University Betty Márquez Rosales, reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Educators grapple with fallout after sexual abuse allegations against César Chávez Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube
People in this episode
Host: Zaidee Stavely
Guests: Larissa Mercado-López, Betty Márquez Rosales
Topics covered
- César Chávez
- sexual abuse allegations
- education
- power dynamics
- historical legacy
- Fresno State University
- gender studies
Keywords
- César Chávez
- Fresno State
- sexual abuse
- education
- power
- sexism
- historical legacy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Fresno State University, EdSource
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