Cesar Chavez, US civil rights leader, accused of sexual abuse. Six hours ago. Nardine on teel. Images from Getty. Cesar Chavez, the renowned US civil rights leader who championed farmworkers’ rights, faces posthumous allegations of sexual abuse. Dolores Huerta, his co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, revealed that in the 1960s, Chavez once “manipulated and pressured” her into sex and forced her on another occasion. This follows a New York Times investigation published Wednesday, which outlined claims from Huerta and two other women accusing Chavez of grooming and abusing young women in the labor movement during the 1960s and 1970s. Chavez’s family expressed devastation in a statement, commending the women’s bravery in speaking out. Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, mobilized California’s farmworkers from the 1950s onward through boycotts and marches to improve working conditions. Huerta, now 95, stated the incidents led to pregnancies she kept secret, placing the children with other families. “I kept this secret for so long because advancing the movement and farmworker rights was my life’s mission,” she explained. Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, told the Times that Chavez abused them repeatedly from about 1972 to 1977, when they were girls and he was in his 40s. Several Cesar Chavez Day events—observed on March 31—have been canceled or rebranded. The UFW announced it would not participate, stating it had “not received direct reports” or “firsthand knowledge” of the claims. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the farmworker and labor movements “bigger than any one person,” affirming support for “courageous women” like Huerta. At another event, he indicated openness to renaming the holiday. Republican Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has introduced a bill to rename it Farmworker Day. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the experiences of Huerta, Murguia, and Rojas as “not isolated or historical,” urging ongoing efforts to dismantle harmful systems. The allegations have drawn broad backlash, including from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which stated: “No one, no matter their status or legacy, is exempt from accountability in safeguarding others’ dignity.” The Cesar Chavez Foundation acknowledged “disturbing allegations” of its founder engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with women and minors during his UFW presidency. It expressed being “deeply shocked and saddened,” and is collaborating with farmworker leaders to address the claims and assist potential victims. United States. California.
