Dolores Huerta Speaks Out About Alleged Abuse by Cesar Chavez

The iconic civil rights leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers says she was "manipulated and pressured into having sex" with Chavez in the 1960s.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:11pm

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Dolores Huerta, the 95-year-old civil rights leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, has spoken out about alleged sexual abuse by the late labor leader Cesar Chavez. Huerta said she was "manipulated and pressured into having sex" with Chavez on two occasions in the 1960s, resulting in pregnancies that she kept secret for decades. Huerta's revelations come after a New York Times report detailed accusations of sexual assault against Chavez by several women and minors who worked with him.

Why it matters

Huerta's allegations against the revered Chavez, who became a national civil rights icon, have rocked the labor movement and raised questions about the legacy of a leader once seen as a champion for farmworkers' rights. Huerta's decision to speak out is seen as an act of courage that could inspire other women to come forward with their own stories of abuse.

The details

According to Huerta, she was "manipulated and pressured into having sex" with Chavez on two separate occasions in the 1960s. One encounter resulted in a pregnancy that she kept secret, with the child being raised by her brother. The other pregnancy was also kept secret, with the child being raised by a family friend. Huerta said she initially kept quiet because she thought abortion was a sin, but has since changed her views on the issue.

  • In the 1960s, Huerta had two separate sexual encounters with Chavez.
  • Chavez died in 1993 at the age of 66.

The players

Dolores Huerta

A 95-year-old civil rights leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, who has spoken out about alleged sexual abuse by Cesar Chavez.

Cesar Chavez

The late labor leader and civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers, and has been accused of sexual assault by several women and minors who worked with him.

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What they’re saying

“It was very hard, it was very hard to keep this. But, you know, I think I am building on the courage of these young women — that they had the courage to come out and say what happened to them. And God knows what they've suffered,”

— Dolores Huerta

“Cesar spoke about and practiced the nonviolent movement. Well, what could be more violent than that?”

— Dolores Huerta

The takeaway

Huerta's allegations against the revered Chavez have rocked the labor movement and raised questions about the legacy of a leader once seen as a champion for farmworkers' rights. Her decision to speak out is seen as an act of courage that could inspire other women to come forward with their own stories of abuse, challenging the long-held narrative around one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 20th century.