Sen. John Cornyn announces legislation to defund Cesar Chavez national park site

Sen. John Cornyn said Friday he would seek to remove Cesar Chavez’s home and grave site from the national park system, saying the monument to the now-disgraced Hispanic rights icon does not deserve taxpayer support.

Mr. Cornyn announced the decision on social media, following new revelations that Chavez, who died in 1993, groomed and raped young girls and women who worked with him in his United Farm Workers movement.

President Obama created the Cesar Chavez National Monument in 2012, aiming to build support among Hispanic voters. The monument encompasses his home and office.

It is managed by the National Park Service.

Mr Cornyn said some of the reported abuse took place on the site.

“Not one cent more of taxpayer money should be spent on a monument glorifying a monster like Chavez,” the Texas Republican said.

The National Park Service did not respond to requests for information about its plans for the site.

Mr. Cornyn’s legislation, however, could resolve a conundrum created by President Trump, who in an executive order last year ordered the Park Service to resist efforts to denigrate Americans memorialized at its properties.

Chavez saw his legacy quashed after The New York Times reported that women claimed he groped them and forced them to have sex in the 1970s, when they were minors and he was in his 40s.

Then Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW with Chavez, said Chavez forced her to have sex twice in the 1960s, both times resulting in pregnancies.

Ms. Huerta’s revelation has shaken the political left, where many consider her a friend and say they are shocked by the treatment she received from a man they had hailed as a hero.

Chavez monuments and commemorations were quickly erased this week, including covered statues and canceled Chavez Day celebrations.

California officials announced they would rename the March 31 holiday in Chavez’s honor.