Labor Icon Breaks Decades of Silence
Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta says she was sexually abused by Cesar Chavez, the late labor organizer she helped found the United Farm Workers with in 1962. In a statement released March 18, 2026, Huerta said she could “no longer stay silent” after new reporting showed she was not the only alleged survivor.
Huerta Details Two Encounters
Huerta, 95, said Chavez pressured her into one sexual encounter and forced a second one against her will during the 1960s. She also said both incidents led to pregnancies that she kept secret for years, later arranging for the children to be raised by other families.
Allegations Follow New Investigation
Her statement came after a New York Times investigation reported allegations that Chavez abused women and minors while leading the farmworker movement. According to the reporting summarized by ABC News and other outlets, multiple survivors accused Chavez of using his influence to exploit young women and girls.
UFW, Foundation and Family Respond
The United Farm Workers and the César Chávez Foundation called the allegations disturbing and said they were shocked and saddened by the reports. Chavez’s family also said they were devastated by the claims and expressed support for survivors seeking healing.
Legacy Under New Scrutiny
Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, has long been honored as a major figure in labor and civil rights history. Huerta said his alleged actions do not reflect the values of the farmworker movement, adding that her focus has always remained on protecting workers’ rights and the cause she spent her life building.
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