Cesar Chavez’s family, leaders and civil rights organizations reacted Wednesday to Dolores Huerta’s statement alleging she was sexually abused by Chavez during their time as high-profile labor leaders in 1960s.
Huerta, 96, said she was “manipulated and pressured” into sex with Chavez on two separate occasions. Both encounters resulted in pregnancies, Huerta said.
The civil rights leader, who co-founded what became United Farm Workers with Chavez, said she kept the abuse quiet because she “believed exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.”
Below, a roundup of statements.
Chavez family statement
The Chavez family released this statement Wednesday morning:
“Our family is shocked and saddened to learn of news that our father, Cesar Chavez, engaged in sexual impropriety with women and minors nearly 50 years ago. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse. This is deeply painful to our family.
We hope these matters are approached thoughtfully and fairly. We ask for understanding and privacy as we continue to process this difficult information. As family members, we also carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people.
We will process and be responsive to the experiences of others as we hold cherished memories of our father. We hope that these conversations are approached with care, fairness, and compassion for everyone involved.”
Reaction around Los Angeles
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued this statement about the reported sexual abuse by Chavez:
“I am horrified by the abuse that we now know Dolores Huerta and other women suffered, but I’m moved by their incredible courage in telling their stories publicly all these years later. What matters most now is that we listen and support them as well as any other woman who suffered this abuse.
For those of us who grew up admiring the farmworker movement, today’s news is heartbreaking. But as in any other civil rights movement, men were only half the story. The abuses of one man will never diminish the extraordinary sacrifices, accomplishments, and legacy of the women of the farmworker movement.
It’s time we put them first. I think it’s time to change the name of our March public holiday to ‘Farmworker Day’ in Los Angeles County.”
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is closed on March 27 for the observation of Chavez’s birthday. NBC Los Angeles reached out to the district on Wednesday, and a LAUSD spokesperson released this statement:
“Los Angeles Unified is aware of the recent, troubling allegations related to Cesar Chavez. We take matters of this nature very seriously. Los Angeles Unified respects the voices and courage of survivors of all forms of violence.
The District is reviewing curriculum and resources to ensure the emphasis remains on the important work of the farmworker movement, not on any one individual. It is important to recognize the collective work of thousands who have advanced social justice, labor rights, and community empowerment.”
More reactions flood in
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said it “upholds its principles to hold abusers accountable” and released this statement Wednesday:
“Accountability never dies. The allegations published against César Chávez are deeply disturbing and profoundly serious. We cannot celebrate a man, regardless of his accomplishments, if he harmed women and children in such vile ways. While it’s heartbreaking when leaders are exposed as flawed beyond absolution, a just society has a duty to hold abusers accountable without exception.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus unequivocally believes and stands with survivors, and we condemn these abhorrent actions in the strongest possible terms. A movement stands on its values, not the misconduct of an individual. The strength of a movement is defined by its constituency, by its achievements and, yes, by its willingness to hold its leaders accountable.
We will always support the farmworkers who feed this nation, enrich our culture and elevate our values. We commend the UFW’s courage in standing by its constituency. We stand committed to work toward renaming streets, post offices, vessels, and holidays that bear Chávez’s name to instead honor our community and the farmworkers whose struggle defined the movement.
This March 31, CHC members will recognize and honor farmworkers and their arduous, essential work, and reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to survivors and all who have been impacted at this time.”
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, said it “unequivocally condemns any form of sexual violence against women and minors and strongly denounces the actions alleged involving the late Cesar Chavez.”
Here’s the rest of LULAC’s statement:
“No individual, regardless of stature or legacy, is above accountability when it comes to protecting and upholding others’ dignity. LULAC stands with all victims of sexual abuse and affirms that no one has the right to exploit or harm children or women under any circumstances. We extend our deepest concern and solidarity to those who have suffered.
The actions of one person neither reflect nor diminish the integrity of the farmworker movement. LULAC remains unchanged in its support of the farmworker movement and the countless men and women who, for generations, have labored in the fields, often unseen and unheard, to sustain their families and feed this nation.
Their contributions are indispensable, and their voices must be respected and protected. Our commitment is clear: to uphold dignity for all, to support those who have been harmed, and to continue advancing the civil and human rights central to the promise of America.”
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