US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, known for advocating for the rights of farm workers, has been accused of sexual abuse. Dolores Huerta said that in the 1960s, Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union (UFW) with her, once manipulated and pressured her into having sex, and on another occasion forced her.
These allegations surfaced following a report from the New York Times, which detailed accounts from Huerta and two other women claiming Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls involved in the labor movement during the 1960s and 1970s.
In a statement, Chavez's family said they are devastated by the reports and praised the women's courage to come forward. Chavez, who passed away in 1993 at the age of 66, was instrumental in rallying California's farm workers since the 1950s.
Huerta, now 95, stated that the two encounters with Chavez led to pregnancies she chose to keep secret, arranging for the children to be raised by other families. I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life's work, she said.
Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, also disclosed incidents of sexual abuse by Chavez from around 1972 to 1977 when he was in his 40s. As a result of these revelations, numerous events celebrating Cesar Chavez Day, scheduled for March 31, have been canceled or renamed.
The UFW announced its withdrawal from the celebrations and stated it had not received any direct reports regarding the allegations. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed that the farm workers' movement and labor movement are much bigger than one man and affirmed his support for the courageous women like Huerta. He has indicated openness to renaming Cesar Chavez Day in California.
Republican assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has filed legislation to change the holiday's name to Farmworker Day. Adding to the discourse, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared that the situation highlights systemic issues that harm women and emphasizes the need for accountability across the board.
The civil rights organization, LULAC, denounced the allegations as unacceptable regardless of one's legacy, urging for accountability. The Cesar Chavez Foundation recognized the disturbing allegations and expressed it is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to address the accusations and support those harmed.
These allegations surfaced following a report from the New York Times, which detailed accounts from Huerta and two other women claiming Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls involved in the labor movement during the 1960s and 1970s.
In a statement, Chavez's family said they are devastated by the reports and praised the women's courage to come forward. Chavez, who passed away in 1993 at the age of 66, was instrumental in rallying California's farm workers since the 1950s.
Huerta, now 95, stated that the two encounters with Chavez led to pregnancies she chose to keep secret, arranging for the children to be raised by other families. I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life's work, she said.
Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, also disclosed incidents of sexual abuse by Chavez from around 1972 to 1977 when he was in his 40s. As a result of these revelations, numerous events celebrating Cesar Chavez Day, scheduled for March 31, have been canceled or renamed.
The UFW announced its withdrawal from the celebrations and stated it had not received any direct reports regarding the allegations. California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed that the farm workers' movement and labor movement are much bigger than one man and affirmed his support for the courageous women like Huerta. He has indicated openness to renaming Cesar Chavez Day in California.
Republican assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has filed legislation to change the holiday's name to Farmworker Day. Adding to the discourse, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared that the situation highlights systemic issues that harm women and emphasizes the need for accountability across the board.
The civil rights organization, LULAC, denounced the allegations as unacceptable regardless of one's legacy, urging for accountability. The Cesar Chavez Foundation recognized the disturbing allegations and expressed it is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to address the accusations and support those harmed.
