Labor Icon Chavez Accused of Sexual Abuse

Dolores Huerta and others say they were victims of César Chavez's misconduct

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:19am

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Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta revealed she was among women and girls who say they were sexually abused by César Chavez, the widely admired Latino icon who led the United Farm Workers union. The stunning allegations against Chavez, who died more than three decades ago, have drawn immediate calls to alter memorials honoring the man who helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers.

Why it matters

The revelations about Chavez's alleged sexual abuse have shaken the labor rights movement, forcing a reckoning over the legacy of a revered figure. Leaders are now grappling with how to address Chavez's misdeeds while honoring the broader farmworker movement he helped lead.

The details

Huerta, a labor rights legend in her own right, said she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker movement. She described two sexual encounters with Chavez, one where she was 'manipulated and pressured' and another where she was 'forced against my will.' Huerta said both encounters led to pregnancies that she kept secret. The New York Times also reported that Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement.

  • Huerta revealed the allegations on March 19, 2026.
  • Chavez died in 1993 at the age of 66.

The players

Dolores Huerta

A labor rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with César Chavez in 1962, which became the United Farm Workers of America. Huerta has revealed she was among the women and girls sexually abused by Chavez.

César Chavez

A widely admired Latino icon who led the United Farm Workers union and helped secure better wages and working conditions for farmworkers. He has now been accused of sexually abusing Huerta and other women and girls.

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What they’re saying

“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was life's work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn't going to let César or anyone else get in the way.”

— Dolores Huerta, Labor Rights Activist

“César's actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.”

— Dolores Huerta, Labor Rights Activist

What’s next

Leaders across the Southwest are now reconsidering how to honor Chavez, with some calling for the removal of his name from streets, schools, and parks. The Phoenix City Council is set to vote next week on whether to rename the March 31 holiday honoring Chavez to 'Farmworkers Day'.

The takeaway

The revelations about César Chavez's alleged sexual abuse have forced a reckoning within the labor rights movement, as leaders grapple with how to address the misdeeds of a revered figure while continuing to honor the broader fight for farmworker justice that Chavez helped lead.