Bay Area farmworker advocates ‘betrayed’ after Cesar Chavez abuse allegations, support accusers

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KGO) — For decades, Cesar Chavez, the prominent civil rights icon, devoted his life to helping farmworkers. He was once viewed as a hero now an alleged abuser.

“When you realize that someone that you have looked up to for a long time commits acts like these. It hurts in the sense that you feel betrayed, but again, I want the light to be on the strong women and survivor women,” said Rita Mancera, Director of Puente de la costa sur.

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In a statement, Dolores Huerta, the labor activist who worked alongside Chavez and co-founded the United Farm Workers broke her silence saying Chavez “manipulated and pressured her into having sex” with him leading to two pregnancies. This after two other allegations involving a 12- and 15-year-old surfaced against Chavez, per a New York Times article.

Bay Area farmworker advocates were glad Huerta also spoke up.

“I admire her already. She is one of the role models that I do. I was shocked to hear that she had to hid this for so many years,” said Mancera.

MORE: Former SF supervisor behind Cesar Chavez St. name in 1995 wants to change it after abuse allegations

Former Mayor of Half Moon Bay Joaquin Jimenez said he looked up to Chavez and said he inspired his path to help the farm working community.

“Forget Cesar Chavez. My heart goes to the people who were affected, abused, raped and raped. It’s not too late to speak up. Women need to speak up,” said Jimenez.

LIST: Bay Area locations named after Cesar Chavez as abuse allegations put legacy in spotlight

Nonprofit ALAS said the farmworkers often stay silent when facing trauma.

“Through generations, we’ve learned to stay silent out of fear and out of powerful authorities, we stay quiet. This has to teach us that we can no longer continue in that way,” said Belinda Hernandez Arriaga, CEO of ALAS.

MORE: Bay Area community shocked by ‘devastating’ allegations involving Cesar Chavez

Their combined goal now is to continue to fight for farmworkers.

“We need to stand up and rise together,” said Hernandez Arriaga.

ALAS had a weeklong of events to honor farmworkers leading up to Cesar Chavez day on March 31. Now, they are planning to rename it.