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United Farm Workers union to skip César Chávez Day after ‘profoundly shocking’ allegations
Union leader César Chávez at a press conference in 1974.
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Les Lee
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Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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Allegations against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez spur reckoning with legacy
LAist talked to Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Miriam Pawel, author of "The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography," and Alejandra Molina, senior reporter for Boyle Heights Beat about the allegations and what's next.
Update
A New York Times investigation published Wednesday reported allegations that César Chávez abused girls for years. In an interview included in the report, Delores Huerta, Chávez's United Farm Workers co-founder, says he sexually assaulted her in 1966, and years earlier had pressured her to have sex on a work trip.
In a statement released Wednesday morning by Huerta, she disclosed that, in her words, "both sexual encounters with Cesar led to pregnancies."
"I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work," said Huerta, who is 96.
"The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me," she said. "My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. Cesar’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement."
The United Farm Workers union says it won’t be participating in any César Chávez Day activities on March 31 after it learned of “troubling” allegations against Chávez, who co-founded the labor organization in 1962.
About the allegations: In a statement posted Tuesday, the organization said it learned of allegations that Chávez acted in ways that are “incompatible” with the union’s values. UFW also said it does not have any direct reports or firsthand knowledge of the allegations, but that they include claims about abuse — possibly of young women or minors. "These allegations have been profoundly shocking," the union said. "We need some time to get this right, including to ensure robust, trauma-informed services are available to those who may need it."
Resources for victims
The Dolores Huerta Foundation is providing resources for support for victims of sexual assault
Among the resources listed in Southern Callfornia
East Los Angeles Women’s Center
- Confidential, bilingual crisis hotline at (800) 585-6231 that is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
- Emergency services and referrals
- West San Gabriel Valley: 626-793-3385
- Central Los Angeles: 213-626-3393
- South Los Angeles: 310-392-8381
Project Sister Sexual Assault 24/7 Crisis Hotline (East San Gabriel Valley/Pomona)
- Crisis intervention, counseling, prevention education, 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, and support services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
- Sexual Assault Survivors: (909) 626-4357 (HELP)
- Child Abuse Hotline: (626) 966-4155
Why it matters: The announcement is a blow to one of the most revered legacies in the fight for farm workers’ rights. However, Chávez, who died in 1993, wasn’t without controversy. He was known for efforts to stop undocumented immigrants from coming into the U.S., often referring to the group with derogatory language.
What’s next: The union said it’s working with experts to set up an “external, confidential, independent channel” for people Chávez may have harmed to come forward with their stories and seek accountability. In lieu of César Chávez Day, on Tuesday, March 31, UFW is also calling on allies to instead show up to immigration justice events and support farm workers in their communities.
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