Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta revealed she was among women and girls who say they were sexually abused by C茅sar Chavez, the widely admired Latino icon who brought to light the struggles of farmhands while leading the United Farm Workers union.
The stunning allegations against Chavez, who died more than three decades ago, drew immediate calls to alter memorials honoring the man who in the 1960s helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers and has been long in the U.S.
In a statement released Wednesday, Huerta said she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker movement.
Huerta described two sexual encounters with Chavez, one where she was 鈥渕anipulated and pressured鈥� and another where she was 鈥渇orced against my will.鈥�
鈥淚 carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was life鈥檚 work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn鈥檛 going to let C茅sar or anyone else get in the way,鈥� she said.
Huerta, who is a labor rights legend in her own right, joined Chavez in 1962 to co-found the National Farm Workers Association, which became the United Farm Workers of America.
For many, they were akin to Martin Luther King. Jr. and Rosa Parks because of their work advocating for racial equality and civil rights.
The New York Times first reported Wednesday that it found Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement. Huerta, too, revealed to the newspaper that she was a victim of the abuse in her 30s.
Huerta later said both sexual encounters with Chavez led to pregnancies, which she kept secret, and that she arranged for the children to be raised by other families. 鈥淣o one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago,鈥� she said in her statement.
Huerta said she did not know that Chavez hurt other women and condemned his actions but emphasized that the farmworker movement is bigger than one person.
鈥淐茅sar鈥檚 actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people,鈥� Huerta said in her statement. 鈥淲e must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.鈥�
Chavez’s family said in a statement that they are devastated by the news and 鈥渨ish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward.鈥�
鈥淲e carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people,鈥� the statement said.
Leaders reconsider celebrations honoring Chavez
Streets, schools and parks across the Southwest bear Chavez鈥檚 name. California became the first state to commemorate his birthday, and in 2014, then-President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as national C茅sar Chavez Day.
President Joe Biden had a installed in the Oval Office when he moved into the White House. Neither Biden nor Obama have yet commented on the allegations.
But otherwise, reactions Wednesday were swift from many in both parties.
Days before the allegations were revealed publicly, several C茅sar Chavez celebrations in San Francisco, Texas and in his home state of Arizona were canceled at the request of the C茅sar Chavez Foundation. Organizers of canceled events did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state will not observe the C茅sar Chavez Day holiday and that he will urge the state Legislature to remove it altogether.
California Gov. Gavin 太子探花om said he was still processing the news. The Democratic governor wouldn鈥檛 commit to making any changes to the state holiday, saying the farmworker movement was much more than Chavez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about labor. It鈥檚 about social justice, economic justice, racial justice.鈥�
A spokesperson for Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said she has declined to recognize March 31 as C茅sar Chavez Day as she has in the two prior years. C茅sar Chavez Day isn鈥檛 a state holiday in Arizona.
Next week, the Phoenix City Council is set to vote on whether to rename the March 31 holiday, as well as buildings and city streets that bear Chavez鈥檚 name. The mayor and two city council members want the holiday to be renamed Farmworkers Day.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller ordered a review of how Chavez is recognized across the city. And U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luj谩n, a New Mexico Democrat, said: 鈥淗is name should be removed from landmarks, institutions and honors.”
Born in Yuma, Arizona, Chavez grew up in a Mexican American family that traveled around California picking lettuce, grapes, cotton and other seasonal crops. He died in California in 1993 at age 66.
Chavez is known nationally for his early a hunger strike, a grape boycott and eventual victory in getting growers to negotiate with farmworkers for better wages and working conditions.
The C茅sar Chavez Foundation pledged unequivocal support for the labor leader鈥檚 victims on Wednesday and said that — with the Chavez family鈥檚 support — the organization will figure out its identity going forward.
鈥淲e are committed to restorative justice and healing for those who have been harmed, and to ensure our organization reflects the dignity and safety every person deserves,鈥� the foundation said in a statement.
Latino civil rights leaders weigh allegations
Latino leaders and community groups are now weighing the impact of Chavez’s actions on the labor rights movement while emphasizing that the farmworker movement was led by thousands who came together to fight for justice.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights organization, released a statement condemning any form of sexual violence, stating that 鈥渘o individual, regardless of statue or legacy is above accountability.鈥� Similarly, leaders from the nonprofit Voto Latino said in a statement that no matter his legacy or historical framing Chavez鈥檚 actions are inexcusable. But, they said, the news does not erase the work done by others.
鈥淭he women who organized, marched, and sacrificed alongside farmworkers carried this movement on their backs,鈥� Voto Latino said.
U.S. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fern谩ndez, chair of the Democratic Women鈥檚 Caucus, issued a statement saying she was heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the stories of women who say they were abused.
The United Farm Workers union quickly distanced itself from annual celebrations of its , calling the allegations troubling.
In a statement Tuesday, the union said allegations of 鈥渁buse of young women or minors鈥� were concerning enough to urge people around the country to participate in immigration justice events or acts of service instead of the typical events in March to commemorate Chavez鈥檚 legacy.
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Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Hallie Golden in Seattle; Tr芒n Nguy峄卬 in Sacramento, Calif.; Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Felicia Fonseca and Jacques Billeaud in Arizona contributed to this report.
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