Santa Ana College on Thursday covered up plaques, photos, and murals honoring César Chávez, boarding up signage on the campus building that bears his name and draping panels over interior artwork. The move comes as local officials and college leaders weigh whether those tributes should remain amid a broader reexamination of Chávez’s legacy.
What the college did
The college’s president announced that naming plaques and murals would be temporarily covered and Chávez-related photos removed from the school’s website and social media accounts while leaders decide next steps, according to NBC Los Angeles. The statement described the move as an interim, protective measure while the campus consults with trustees and the broader community.
Photos show crews covering the artwork
Photographs published by The Associated Press show workers fitting panels over an Emigdio Vasquez mural titled “The Legacy of César Chávez” inside the César Chávez Business and Computer Center and boarding up exterior signage at the A-building entrance. The AP images show crews wrapping and boarding both the mural and the building’s identifying plaques along campus streets. The Associated Press documented the coverings on March 19, 2026.
Why do officials move so fast
The college’s actions followed a New York Times investigation that published allegations that Chávez sexually abused girls and women, including an account from labor co-founder Dolores Huerta. That reporting has prompted institutions and cities across the country to reconsider honors that bear his name. The New York Times first broke the story that set off the wave of reviews.
Campus reaction and a board meeting
Student Helen Estrada rushed to see the changes as word spread on campus. “I heard they were covering up the names outside. I ran over there, took a moment of silence, just acknowledged the women and the school’s decision to cover up his name and hopefully rename this building,” Estrada told NBC Los Angeles. The college said the murals were covered while officials consider options, and the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss next steps, according to the same report.
Local history and what is at stake
Vasquez’s mural has long been a prominent piece of Chicano public art on the Santa Ana campus, and the district has used Chávez’s image in outreach events such as KinderCaminata, which brings kindergarten students to campus each March, the Rancho Santiago Community College District notes. RSCCD has previously highlighted Chávez’s role in local campus traditions, and local coverage recorded Emigdio Vasquez’s portrait being donated to the building in 2024. The Don News reported on that donation.
For now, the plaques and murals remain covered while trustees and community leaders weigh how to proceed. Whatever they decide will shape how Santa Ana College publicly remembers a figure whose reputation is now under intense scrutiny. The college and district have not announced a timeline for any permanent changes.
