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US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, known for defending 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 (UFW) union with her, once “manipulated and pressured” her into having sex, and on another occasion forced her.
This comes after The New York Times published an investigation Wednesday detailing allegations by Huerta and two other women that Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls involved in the labor movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
In a statement, her family said they were “devastated” by this information and praised the “courage of these women to come forward”.
Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, rallied California farmworkers in the 1950s to press for improved working conditions and led national boycotts and protests.
In her statement, Huerta, 95, said both encounters with Chavez resulted in pregnancies that she chose to keep secret, causing the children to be raised by other families.
“I kept this secret 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, told the New York Times that Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were girls, between 1972 and 1977, when he was in his 40s.
Several events celebrating Cesar Chavez Day, a commemorative holiday that takes place on March 31, have been canceled or renamed.
In a statement, the UFW announced that it was canceling its participation in the celebrations.
The union added that it had “received no direct reports” and “had no direct knowledge” of the allegations.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the farmworker movement and labor movement “are much bigger than one man” and that he stands with “courageous women” like Huerta.
At another event, he said he was open to renaming California Cesar Chavez Day.
Republican Rep. Alexandra Macedo of California also filed a bill to change the name of the holiday to Farm Workers Day.
“The sickening reality is that what Dolores, Ana and Debra endured is not isolated and is not part of the past,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, demanding sustained action to dismantle the structures that harmed women.
These allegations have drawn widespread condemnation, including from the civil rights organization the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
“No individual, regardless of stature or heritage, is above their responsibilities when it comes to protecting and defending the dignity of others,” LULAC said in a statement.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation said it was aware of “disturbing allegations” that its founder engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors while he was president of the UFW.
The foundation said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the allegations and is working with leaders of the farmworker movement “to respond to these allegations” and support those who may have been harmed.
