Gov. Joe Lombardo is putting the brakes on Nevada's annual Cesar Chavez Day proclamation, holding off as new allegations against the late labor icon ripple through politics and organized labor. The ceremonial nod, which by law tracks March 31, is suddenly in limbo while the governor and state leaders sort through the fallout.
Lombardo said he is talking with lawmakers and wants time to review recent reporting before deciding whether Nevada should formally recognize the day this year. The last-minute pause leaves the state without the standard proclamation that typically accompanies the observance.
In a statement to FOX5 Las Vegas, Lombardo's office said the governor "understands that a formal recognition from the state would be painful for many." He told the station he has asked the Nevada Legislature to review the allegations before he decides how to proceed.
What Nevada law requires
Per the Nevada Revised Statutes, section NRS 236.027 directs the governor to proclaim March 31 each year as "Cesar Chavez Day," a requirement added by lawmakers in 2009. The proclamation can urge media outlets, educators and civic leaders to highlight Chavez's contributions, so any move to change or end the observance would have to come from the Legislature, not the governor alone.
Why the pause
The governor's hesitation follows national reporting that accuses Chavez of sexually abusing women and girls, with detailed accounts laid out in a New York Times investigation. As reported by The Associated Press, those revelations have pushed unions and communities across the country to reassess how they honor Chavez, with some canceling events outright and others opting for quieter rebrands.
National ripple effects
From city halls to college campuses, institutions have started pausing or renaming Cesar Chavez commemorations, while officials review statues, street names and programs tied to his legacy. Coverage of marches pulled and unions pivot has tracked a growing wave of cancellations and rebrandings as organizations try to center survivors and repair work without erasing the broader farmworker movement.
What’s next in Nevada
Lombardo has consulted with both Republican and Democratic legislators as he weighed whether to issue the proclamation this year, according to reporting in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Any permanent change to the holiday, whether a tweak or a full repeal, would require lawmakers to amend or strike NRS 236.027 through the usual committee hearings and floor votes.
For now, Nevada's observance of Cesar Chavez Day is stuck in a holding pattern. Elected officials, labor groups and survivors' advocates are wrestling with how to honor the farmworker movement while confronting the abuse allegations tied to its most famous leader. By withholding the proclamation, Lombardo has opened a window for the Legislature to debate next steps before the state decides how, or whether, to formally mark March 31 going forward.
