List of monuments and memorials to Cesar Chavez
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This is a list of monuments and memorials to Cesar Chavez, an American labor leader and civil rights activist. This list includes objects, including artworks such as statues and murals, named for or depicting Chavez, along with commemorative awards and events in his honor. For a list of geographic locations named to commemorate Chavez, including buildings, streets, and institutions, see List of places named after Cesar Chavez.
Beginning in March 2026, following public allegations that Chavez had sexually abused women and minors, various local and state governments and other organizations removed, covered, reconsidered, or announced plans to remove or rename monuments, artworks, and events honoring him.
| Image | Name if known | Location | Type | Date installed/established | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
César E. Chávez National Monument | Keene, California | Gravesite of Cesar Chavez | October 8, 2012 | Established as a national monument. | |
| César E. Chávez Plaza | Sacramento, California | Sculpture and plaza | Sculpture depicting Chavez leading farmworkers during the 1966 march to the state Capitol. Statue and plaza signs were covered in March 2026; the city announced plans to rename the plaza. | [1] | ||
| Cesar Chavez Memorial Park, Tulare, California | Park monument and signage | 1994 | Monument and signs covered as of March 2026. The Tulare City Council established a committee in April 2026 to review renaming; ownership of the park between the city and school district is disputed. | [2] | ||
| César Chávez Memorial | Rancho De Oro Park, Coachella, California | Memorial | 2017 | City project completed in 2017 at a cost of $1 million; the design process included public engagement and outreach. | [3][4] | |
| César Chávez Memorial | Main Street Pedestrian Mall, Riverside, California | Bronze statue | 2013 | Part of Riverside's Peace Walk. The statue was installed through a project led by the Riverside Latino Network. In March 2026, the city announced that it was working with the Latino Network to determine the statue's future. | [5][6] | |
| Cesar E. Chavez memorial statue | Cesar E. Chavez Library, Perris, California | Memorial statue | June 14, 2024 | Statue unveiled in front of the library. In April 2026, the Perris City Council considered renaming the library and removing or replacing the statue and related Chavez imagery. | [7][8] |
Artworks
| Name if known | Location | Type | Date installed/established | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice | San Jose State University, San Jose, California | Mosaic arch | 2008 | Pearlescent plaster arch with Venetian tile mosaics by Judy Baca, featuring portraits of Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Mahatma Gandhi, Robert Kennedy, and two unnamed farmworkers. Under review by SJSU as of March 2026. | |
| César Chávez | University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas | Sculpture | October 2007 | Bronze sculpture by Pablo Eduardo. Future under discussion as of March 2026. | |
| Santa Ana, California | Murals | various | Chavez's face is featured on several murals throughout the city. | [9] | |
| La Marcha Por La Humanidad | University of Houston, Houston, Texas | Mural | 1973 | Mural by Mario R. Gonzalez, Rubén A. Reyna, and other Chicano students, depicting Chavez among other Chicana and Chicano leaders. The university said in April 2026 that the mural would remain in place while a stakeholder group reviewed how Chavez is portrayed in the work. | [10][11] |
| La Causa | San Jose City College, San Jose, California | Mural | 2024 | Mural by Carlos Rodriguez on the side of the César E. Chávez Library. The college said in March 2026 that there would be no immediate change to the mural, while Chavez's name was covered on campus directory maps and the future of related honors was discussed. | [12][13] |
Honors and events
| Name | Location | Type | Date established | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Hall of Fame | California Museum, Sacramento, California | Hall of fame induction | 2006 | Chavez was inducted as a member of the inaugural class. On March 18, 2026, the California Museum Board of Trustees announced that it was moving to remove him from the roster of inductees. | [14] |
| Cesar Chavez Day | United States; state and local observances | Commemorative holiday and public observance | 2000 in California; federal proclamation in 2014 | California proclaimed Cesar Chavez Day as a state holiday in 2000, and it became a federal commemorative holiday in 2014. On March 26, 2026, California enacted Assembly Bill 2156, renaming the March 31 state holiday as Farmworkers Day. Los Angeles also proclaimed the last Monday of March as "Farm Workers Day" in March 2026. | [15][16][17] |
