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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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The Cesar Chavez Foundation has said it is "deeply shocked and saddened" by allegations that the labor leader and civil rights activist abused young women and minors.
In a statement on Tuesday, the foundation said it had become aware that Chavez was accused of engaging in "inappropriate sexual behavior" during his time as president of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).
"The Foundation is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to be responsive to these allegations, support the people who may have been harmed by his actions, and ensure we are united and guided by our commitment to justice and community empowerment," it said.
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The UFW said on Tuesday that it would not be participating in any celebrations honoring Chavez, one of the union's co-founders, following what it said were troubling but unspecified allegations.
Newsweek contacted the foundation and the UFW for comment by email outside regular business hours.
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The Context
Chavez rose to national prominence in the 1960s, and is known for his early organizing work in the fields, a hunger strike, a grape boycott, and his eventual victory in getting growers to negotiate with farmworkers for better wages and working conditions. In 1962, Chavez and Dolores Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which became the United Farm Workers of America.
Chavez died in California in 1993 at age 66. Since then, streets, schools and parks have been renamed in his honor and annual parades are held on March 31, Chavez's birthday. California became the first state to establish March 31 as a day to commemorate his legacy in 2000. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as national Cesar Chavez Day.
What To Know
The union said the allegations of "abuse of young women or minors" were serious enough to urge people to participate in immigration justice events or acts of service instead of the typical events to commemorate Chavez's legacy.
The union said it had not received any direct reports of abuse and did not have any firsthand knowledge of the allegations.
Several Cesar Chavez celebrations around the country - including in San Francisco, Texas, and his home state of Arizona - were canceled in recent weeks, with little explanation given by organizers.
The source of the allegations about Chavez are unclear, but KRIS 6 reported that the foundation encouraged organizations nationwide to cancel events honoring Chavez ahead of the publication of a national newspaper article that would detail them.
A march in Corpus Christi, Texas, was cancelled last week after Huerta withdrew from the event amid rumors about Chavez, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Earlier this month, organizers in San Antonio cancelled the city's annual César E. Chávez March for Justice, saying the reason was a "sensitive matter," KSAT reported.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said: "We're all absorbing. Jen and I are very close to Dolores. So many of us are… for decades and decades, and none of us knew, and we are all processing this. The farm workers movement and a labor movement are much bigger than one man — and we celebrate that and that will be our focus as we process what the next steps are. We're for justice. We're for truth. We're for transparency. We will have the backs of these victims.”
The Cesar Chavez Foundation said in a statement: "The Cesar Chavez Foundation has become aware of 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). We are deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing. The Foundation is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to be responsive to these allegations, support the people who may have been harmed by his actions, and ensure we are united and guided by our commitment to justice and community empowerment."
It added: "We ask for our community’s patience as we learn more. Throughout this process, our organization and our partners in the movement will continue our work together to protect and uplift the families and communities that we serve."
The United Farm Workers union said in a statement: "The UFW has learned of deeply troubling allegations that one of the union's co-founders, Cesar Chavez, behaved in ways that are incompatible with our organization’s values. Some of the reports are family issues, and not our story to tell or our place to comment on. Far more troubling are allegations involving abuse of young women or minors. Allegations that very young women or girls may have been victimized are crushing. We have not received any direct reports, and we do not have any firsthand knowledge of these allegations*.* However, the allegations are serious enough that we feel compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized to find support and to share their stories if that is what they choose."
It added: "We are grateful to the support of experts who can help us seek the truth that is the first step toward healing. These allegations have been profoundly shocking. We need some time to get this right, including to ensure robust, trauma-informed services are available to those who may need it."
What Happens Next
Both the foundation and union said they would work to establish a channel for anyone who might have been harmed by Chavez to share experiences confidentially.
"This channel is for those who wish to share their experiences of harm, to identify their current impacts and needs, and, if desired, to participate in a collective process to develop mechanisms for repair and accountability," the union said.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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