Late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez is accused of sexually abusing girls and women, according to a New York Times investigation published Wednesday. Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) with Chavez, also describes in an interview with the Times that the labor leader manipulated and pressured her into sex once and, in a second encounter, forced her “against my will” to have sex. “I am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,” Huerta said in a statement released Wednesday. “I have encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New York Times’ multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by Cesar Chavez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.” Huerta in her statement said the two separate sexual encounters with Chavez occurred in the 1960s. “The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, and I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to. The second time I was forced, against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped,” Huerta said. “I had experienced abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. Both sexual encounters with Cesar led to pregnancies. I chose to keep my pregnancies secret and, after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives.” The Times reported it could not corroborate Huerta’s allegations. news 9 hours ago Cesar Chavez is accused of sexually abusing girls and women in explosive new allegations news Mar 17 Cesar Chavez Foundation ‘deeply shocked' over civil rights leader allegations San Jose Mar 27, 2025 Video Vault: Taking a look back at Bay Area coverage of Cesar Chavez Two other women, who said they were 13 and 15 when Chavez first sexually molested them, also spoke to the Times as part of the investigation. NBC Bay Area reached out to the two women, but had not heard back as of Wednesday afternoon. The Times said it interviewed more than 60 people, including Chavez’s top aides at the time, his relatives and former UFW members during the investigation. The UFW said it will not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities planned on March 31. Several other organizations have also canceled events in light of the news. The Chavez family provided the following statement to NBC Bay Area on Wednesday: “Our family is shocked and saddened to learn of news that our father, Cesar Chavez, engaged in sexual impropriety with women and minors nearly 50 years ago. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse. This is deeply painful to our family. We hope these matters are approached thoughtfully and fairly. We ask for understanding and privacy as we continue to process this difficult information. As family members, we also carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people. We will process and be responsive to the experiences of others as we hold cherished memories of our father. We hope that these conversations are approached with care, fairness, and compassion for everyone involved.” The Cesar Chavez Foundation provided the following statement on Wednesday: “Today’s revelations about Cesar Chavez and his sexual abuse of women and underage minors are shocking, incredibly disappointing, and deeply painful. This goes completely against our commitment to justice and community empowerment. To the survivors: we believe you. We honor your courage, and we are very sorry for the harm you have carried in the shadows for so long. The Cesar Chavez Foundation acknowledges the prevalence of the abuse of women and children. We are committed to restorative justice and healing for those who have been harmed, and to ensure our organization reflects the dignity and safety every person deserves. We are working with leaders in the field of sexual abuse and trauma. With their help, we will figure out the best ways to support this work through the Foundation and be part of the broader solution to raise awareness and prevent mistreatment of women, especially in the communities we advocate for. The Movement was never about one man – it belonged to the people who built it, and it belongs to the communities we continue to serve today. The Movement was built by thousands of ordinary women, men, and families from all walks of life who sacrificed for justice they believed in. Their contributions and the communities they transformed, belong to all of them. They cannot and will not be erased. Although these revelations change how we remember Cesar Chavez as a person, it does not change our commitment to social justice and community empowerment. Today, our organization is carried by hundreds of women and men dedicated to our mission of inspiring and transforming communities. Our work centers on serving people through affordable housing, education, economic opportunity, and community development. With the full support of the Chavez Family, we are actively engaging in a necessary conversation about our organization’s identity – one which we will approach with the seriousness, community input, and care it deserves. We invite our partners and community members to join us in this critical moment to uplift our core values.” UFW President and CEO Jessica M. Jewell provided the following statement on Wednesday: “We are heartbroken by today’s news reports about disturbing allegations that Cesar Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors during his time as President of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). The safety and rights of women and children are non-negotiable in the fight for social justice. Our thoughts and intentions are with those who experience harm when patterns of oppression and abuses of power are recreated within movements for change. While CRLA was founded in 1966 as part of the federal War on Poverty, our founders were deeply inspired by the Latino and Filipino communities who united their civil rights struggles in the Farmworker Movement and UFW. Over our 60-year history as a nonprofit, anti-poverty law firm, we have had the privilege to represent farmworkers in notable legal victories that have made work safer and fairer for all Californians. Our advocacy has and will continue to center community and human wellbeing. We are monitoring the situation as more information becomes publicly available, while also respecting those whose stories are theirs to tell or not tell. We find strength in remembering that broader social justice movements are about so much more than one person and remain committed to co-creating a just and equitable future where all people can thrive.” The League of United Latin American Citizens provided the following statement on Wednesday: “The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) unequivocally condemns any form of sexual violence against women and minors and strongly denounces the actions alleged involving the late Cesar Chavez. No individual, regardless of stature or legacy, is above accountability when it comes to protecting and upholding others’ dignity. LULAC stands with all victims of sexual abuse and affirms that no one has the right to exploit or harm children or women under any circumstances. We extend our deepest concern and solidarity to those who have suffered. The actions of one person neither reflect nor diminish the integrity of the farmworker movement. LULAC remains unchanged in its support of the farmworker movement and the countless men and women who, for generations, have labored in the fields, often unseen and unheard, to sustain their families and feed this nation. Their contributions are indispensable, and their voices must be respected and protected. Our commitment is clear: to uphold dignity for all, to support those who have been harmed, and to continue advancing the civil and human rights central to the promise of America.” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan provided the following statement on Wednesday: “I am deeply troubled by the serious and disturbing allegations that have come to light regarding Cesar Chavez, and my thoughts are with the survivors who have carried this pain for decades. As the full scope of these allegations is investigated, we recognize that Chavez’s ties to San José come with a responsibility to ensure we are not further traumatizing survivors. We have cancelled City events associated with the state holiday and will identify ways to honor the legacy of the farmworker movement without celebrating individuals who caused such profound harm to the community.” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla provided the following statement on Wednesday: “These are heartbreaking, horrific accounts of abuse. I stand with the survivors, commend them for their bravery in sharing their stories, and condemn the abhorrent actions they described. The survivors deserve to be heard. They deserve to be supported. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. There must be zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, and the silencing of victims, no matter who is involved. Confronting painful truths and ensuring accountability is essential to honoring the very values the greater farm worker movement stands for — values rooted in dignity and justice for all.” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie provided the following statement on Wednesday: “It takes immense bravery to come forward, and my heart goes out to all of the survivors, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Dolores Huerta. The accounts of abuse are deeply disturbing and unacceptable. I’ve been in touch with labor and community leaders in San Francisco and will continue to ensure we are supporting this community and all survivors.” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi provided the following statement on Wednesday: “It was with great sadness that I learned of the egregious revelations reported by the United Farm Workers about César Chávez. We must listen to the survivors, speak their truth, and uphold the values of dignity and justice in the face of conduct that deplorably betrays those principles. Words are inadequate to heal the trauma of Dolores Huerta and the courageous women who have already come forward, but may it be a comfort that so many people are praying and expressing support for them during this unimaginable time. A movement is about the people—not any one person—and its strength lies in the values it upholds. We can honor the farmworker movement—and the generations who sacrificed to build it—while also confronting painful truths. No legacy is above accountability.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom provided the following statement on Wednesday: “The farm workers movement and a labor movement are much bigger than one man. @JenSiebelNewsom and I stand with the courageous women, like Dolores Huerta, who have stepped forward after decades of concealing pain and abuse. We’re for justice. We’re for truth. We’re for transparency. And we will have the backs of these survivors.” Suzanne Gamboa with NBC News contributed to this report. ...read more read less