César Chavez Allegations Expand As Dolores Huerta Accuses Him Of Sexual Abuse

Labor authorities leader Dolores Huerta says she was sexually abused by César Chavez amid reported allegations of abuse by others during his tenure arsenic president of The United Farm Workers union.

An investigation by nan New York Times recovered that Chavez, groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked successful nan movement, including nan co-founder of nan national Dolores Huerta.

In a connection released Wednesday, Huerta said she stayed silent for 60 years retired of interest that her words would wounded nan farmworker movement.

Huerta described 2 intersexual encounters pinch Chavez, 1 wherever she was “manipulated and pressured” and different wherever she was “forced against my will.”

“I carried this concealed for arsenic agelong arsenic I did because building nan activity and securing farmworker authorities was life’s work. The statement of a national was nan only conveyance to execute and unafraid those authorities and I wasn’t going to fto César aliases anyone other get successful nan way.”

Huerta said she did not cognize that Chavez wounded different women and condemned his actions but reminded readers that nan farmworker activity is bigger than 1 person.

“César’s actions do not bespeak nan values of our organization and our movement,” Huerta said successful her statement.

“The farmworker activity has ever been bigger and acold much important than immoderate 1 individual. César’s actions do not diminish nan imperishable improvements achieved for farmworkers pinch nan thief of thousands of people. We must proceed to prosecute and support our community, which needs defense and activism now much than ever.

Latino leaders and organization groups are now weighing nan effect of his actions connected nan labour authorities movement.

In their reactions to nan news, Latino civilian authorities advocates emphasized that nan farmworker activity was not conscionable Chavez but thousands of different individuals who came together to conflict for justice.

Voto Latino leaders said successful a connection that nary matter his bequest aliases humanities framing Chavez’ actions are inexcusable. Similarly, LULAC released a connection condemning immoderate shape of intersexual unit stating that “no individual, sloppy of statue aliases bequest is supra accountability.”

While nan news of these allegations are devastating to nan Latino community, Voto Latino said it does not erase nan activity done by nan thousands women and men who built nan farmworker movement.

“The women who organized, marched, and sacrificed alongside farmworkers carried this activity connected their backs,” Voto Latino said. “Dolores Huerta — a fighter, a elephantine of nan labour movement, and personification who is among nan survivors of this maltreatment — helped build everything this activity stands for.”

U.S. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, chair of nan Democratic Women’s Caucus, issued a connection Wednesday saying she was heartbroken and profoundly disturbed by nan stories of women who opportunity they were abused arsenic girls by Chavez and what she described arsenic a achy relationship of what Huerta endured.

Leger Fernández said nan farmworker and civilian authorities activity was built by countless people, including women and families who sacrificed for a amended future.

“Honoring that bequest intends facing achy truths and continuing nan activity for justness pinch honesty and humanity,” nan New Mexico congresswoman said. “A activity rooted successful justness must reside each injustice.”

Leger Fernández said nan women’s caucus will guidelines pinch survivors and proceed fighting for “a early wherever each women and girls are safe successful their communities, homes, and astatine work.”

The United Farm Workers national has already distanced itself from yearly celebrations of its founder, calling nan allegations troubling.

In a connection Tuesday, nan national said allegations of “abuse of young women aliases minors” were concerning capable to impulse group astir nan state to participate successful migration justness events aliases acts of work alternatively of nan emblematic events successful March to commemorate Chavez’s legacy.