Women Allege Sexual Abuse by Cesar Chavez: 'It’s Truly Horrific'
Women are coming forward with harrowing accounts of sexual abuse at the hands of Cesar Chavez, the revered Latino civil rights leader. They describe how he exploited his influential position to inflict trauma on vulnerable individuals.
“He used his remarkable leadership to harm women and children — it’s truly horrific,” said Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, in a recent interview. Her comments were featured in a report that has sparked widespread discussion.
Huerta recounted a chilling incident from 1966 when Chavez, then a prominent figure advocating for farmers' rights, took her to a remote grape field in Delano, California. There, she alleges he raped her inside a vehicle when she was 36 years old.
She is among several women who shared their stories with the media outlet, revealing a pattern of abuse by Chavez, who passed away in 1993. The investigation involved an extensive review of union records, confidential emails, and photographs.
Ana Murguia, who regarded Chavez as a hero since childhood, disclosed that he assaulted her when she was just 13. “He told me, ‘Don’t tell anyone,’ because ‘they’d get jealous,’” she recalled, noting that the abuse persisted for at least four more years.
Debra Rojas shared her experience of being inappropriately touched by Chavez at the age of 12. She described a particularly traumatic incident when he allegedly molested her at a motel during a lengthy march through California when she was 15. “I had love for him,” Rojas stated. “He did his grooming very well. He should get an Academy Award for all he did.”
In a heartfelt statement on Medium, Huerta explained her silence over the years, attributing it to her commitment to “building the movement and securing farmworker rights.”
“The formation of a union was the only vehicle to achieve and secure those rights, and I wasn’t going to let Cesar or anyone else obstruct that,” she emphasized.
Huerta expressed her anguish for other survivors of Chavez’s abuse, stating that “the knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me.”
“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,” she added.
In light of these allegations, the United Farm Workers Foundation has distanced itself from Chavez, labeling the claims as “shocking.” The organization has canceled all activities related to Cesar Chavez Day this month.
“For nearly 20 years, the UFW Foundation has worked to advocate, organize, and provide direct services that protect and serve farm workers and immigrants—many of whom are women, and many of whom have shared their painful stories with us,” the group stated. “We know this is difficult and painful, and the healing and safety of survivors is of utmost importance to us.”
The Cesar Chavez Foundation, dedicated to supporting Latinos and working families, expressed its “deep shock and sadness” over the allegations and is collaborating with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to address these serious claims.
