Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), has publicly stated for the first time that she was sexually abused by Cesar Chavez, the late labour leader. In a statement released on Wednesday, the 95-year-old activist said she had kept the secret for 60 years out of fear that revealing the truth would harm the farmworker movement.
Huerta published her statement on Medium after sharing her story with the New York Times. She described two incidents in the 1960s: one where Chavez manipulated and pressured her into sex, and another where he forced her against her will. Both encounters led to pregnancies, and she arranged for the children to be raised by other families.
Huerta said she chose to speak out because the Times investigation indicated she was not alone, and other women have come forward alleging abuse by Chavez when they were girls and teenagers. She extended support to those who suffered in silence and emphasised that Chavez's actions do not diminish the achievements for farmworkers.
The New York Times report also detailed stories of two women who said they were groomed and sexually abused by Chavez as children. In response, lawmakers and organisations have distanced themselves from Chavez, and events celebrating his birthday on 31 March have been cancelled or rebranded.
Huerta and Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which later became the UFW. Huerta was instrumental in the national table grape boycotts of the late 1960s, securing a landmark union contract in 1970. She continues her activism through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
