Lawmakers and community leaders react to ‘indefensible’ César Chávez sexual abuse allegations | US farm workers

Lawmakers, union leaders and various community organizations expressed shock and disgust after several women shared allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior and harassment by former labor organizer César Chavez.

The New York Times published a investigation On Wednesday, she detailed allegations that revealed the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union had been grooming and sexually harassing girls involved in the movement for years.

The report led to multiple cancellations or rebrandings of events celebrating César Chávez Day, which is celebrated annually on March 31, Chávez’s birthday. States such as California, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Oregon and Minnesota have recognized the holiday.

Before the Times published the report, media inquiries into the allegations led the UFW to cancel celebrations honoring Chavez, calling the allegations “disturbing,” “shocking” and “indefensible.”

Gavin Newsom said at a news conference Wednesday that “we are all considering” the allegations and emphasized that “the farmworker movement and the labor movement are much bigger than one man.”

“That will be our focus as we process the next steps,” the California governor said. “We are for justice. We are for truth. We are for transparency. We want to look after our victims.”

Adelita Grijalva, the US representative for Chavez’s native Arizona, said she was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations and expressed support for the victims.

There is the state of Arizona announced will no longer celebrate César Chávez Day on March 31 as a public holiday.

“To the survivors: estamos con ustedes “We stand with you,” Grijalva said, “We hear you, we believe in you, and we admire the tremendous courage it takes to speak out.”

“I know there is a deep sense of grief in our society today, which can lead to mixed emotions,” he said. “It is difficult to understand why a leader who has such a significant impact on our society would betray trust. We still have more questions than answers. But it is important to remember that no single person defines a movement. We, the people, are the movement.”

Chavez rose to international fame by campaigning for boycotts and fasts calling for higher wages and better working conditions for migrant workers who pick grapes and do other agricultural work. He died in 1993 at the age of 66. In 1994, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his activism. And Joe Biden displayed a bronze bust of Chavez in the Oval Office.

The Times’ investigation also includes allegations from Dolores Huerta, one of the country’s most influential labor activists and an ally of Chavez, who said he forced her to have sex with him in the 1960s. Huerta released a statement Wednesday saying he “can no longer remain silent.”

Huerta told the news outlet that Chavez took her to a grape field in Delano, California, in 1966 and raped her. He was 36 years old at the time. According to her testimony, rape and a second sexual intercourse led to pregnancy.

Huerta has not shared her story publicly, saying in her statement that she chose to come forward after the Times “showed that I wasn’t the only one, there were others.”

Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the House of Representatives, praised the “brave women” who came forward, including her close friend and ally Huerta.

“We must listen to survivors, speak their truth, and uphold the values ​​of dignity and justice in the face of behavior that deplorably betrays those principles,” Pelosi said, adding: “No legacy is above accountability.”

Speaking at an event on Wednesday, Newsom said he was open to changing the name of César Chavez Day in California, which became a public holiday in 2000 and is commemorated on March 31.

California representative Lou Correa also condemned the late activist’s abuse of women.

“All sexual predators must be held accountable, whether it be the president of the United States, a British prince, or a leader of farmworkers,” Correa said. “There must be zero tolerance for sexual predators, especially those who prey on young children.”

Katie Hobbs became the first governor to say her state, Arizona, would stop recognizing César Chavez’s holiday. A spokesman for the governor said in a statement that he was “deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations.”

“As a social worker who works with homeless youth and victims of domestic violence, Governor Hobbs takes allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct against women and minors very seriously,” the spokesperson said.

San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie said: Publish on X He said he has been “in contact with labor and community leaders in San Francisco and will continue to make sure we support this community and survivors.”

“It takes tremendous courage to come forward, and my heart goes out to all of the survivors, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Dolores Huerta,” she said. “The accounts of abuse are deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

Texas also has another advocacy group, La Union del Pueblo Entero (Lupe), which Chavez co-founded. cancel events Ahead of César Chávez’s vacation, he called the allegations against Chávez “indefensible.”

“LUPE of South Texas is an organization founded primarily by women and led primarily by women, and we understand the seriousness of this news and the harm it will cause to so many people, especially survivors of abuse,” the organization said in a statement. he said.

San Antonio Express-News reported In early March, the César E Chávez Heritage and Education Foundation in Texas announced that it was canceling its March 28 event, citing a “sensitive issue.”

Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the largest US labor federation, said: “We are deeply shocked by these horrific, disturbing allegations. Our thoughts are, first and foremost, with the victims of assault and abuse who describe experiencing things that no one, especially children, should ever have to survive. No legacy can excuse that.”

The AFL-CIO will not participate in or support any events for César Chávez Day.

Some groups in the Bay Area have addressed the allegations and are considering renaming monuments honoring Chavez.

San Francisco board of supervisors member Myrna Melgar said: Times He stated that the name of the street and primary school bearing Chavez’s name would be changed “when the time comes” and called for the conversation to revolve around damage for now.

The César E Chávez Community Action Center at San José State University said in a statement that it was “appropriate for us to pause to determine our next steps.”

in sacramento, A local news source reported The city’s annual Chavez march was still ongoing late Tuesday, although organizers were discussing a possible “rebranding.”

Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. secretary of health and human services and former California attorney general, emphasized the impact the UFW has had and called the allegations against Chavez “a painful side of this story.”

“Iconic labor leader Dolores Huerta stepped forward to tell her story and use her voice to enable other survivors to tell theirs,” Becerra said. “We must stand behind the truth and those who lived it.”

California senator Alex Padilla called the allegations “heartbreaking” and praised the women who came forward. His remarks come nearly a year after he and U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz introduced legislation to create a César E Chávez and the Farmers Movement national historical park.

“These are heartbreaking, horrific accounts of abuse,” Padilla said. “I stand with the survivors, commending them for their courage in sharing their stories, and condemning the heinous acts they describe. Survivors deserve to be heard.”