Riverside Will Not Honor Cesar Chavez at City Council Meeting, Will Instead Celebrate United Farmworkers Day This Year
Published: 3/19/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 19, 2026
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
City of Riverside Will Not Honor Cesar Chavez at City Council Meeting, Will Instead Celebrate United Farmworkers Day This Year
Item calling for issuing proclamation recognizing Cesar Chavez Day will be removed from agenda
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The City of Riverside will remove from its Tuesday (3/24) City Council meeting agenda a previously scheduled item that called for Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson to present a proclamation recognizing March 31, 2026, as Cesar Chavez Day.
The City also will follow the lead of state lawmakers and celebrate United Farmworkers Day this year.
Lock Dawson called for a thoughtful review, including community input, of any public facility or monument that is named after Cesar Chavez, including the Cesar Chavez Community Center on University Avenue and the Cesar Chavez statue on Main Street.
“We are aware of actions taking place both locally and nationally and determining what appropriate steps will be taken here,” Lock Dawson said.
The City owns the community center, which is currently being refurbished. The Park and Recreation Commission will be asked to review options.
A local community group, Latino Network, owns the statue on Main Street, which sits on public land. The City is working with Latino Network to chart a path forward on the future of the statue.
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