Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Legendary civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is facing a storm of sexual harassment allegations.
These significant allegations surfaced after an in-depth investigation published by The New York Times on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
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The report detailed claims of Chavez's abuse against several women, including Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW), and several victims who were minors at the time of the incidents.
As a result, the celebration of Cesar Chavez Day, scheduled for March 31, and numerous events and public facilities honoring him have been reconsidered or even canceled.
The New York Times' Shocking Investigation
A comprehensive investigation by The New York Times was a key catalyst in uncovering this scandal.
The publication interviewed more than 60 people and reviewed numerous documents and union materials to corroborate allegations of sexual abuse that have persisted for years.
The report indicated that Chavez allegedly sexually abused girls involved in the UFW movement.
This finding was particularly shocking given Chavez's standing as a charismatic leader championing farmworkers' rights.
Testimony of Dolores Huerta and Other Victims
One of the most prominent allegations came from Dolores Huerta, a UFW co-founder and longtime ally of Chavez.
Huerta, now 96, revealed that Chavez forced her to have sex with him in the 1960s.
She admitted to keeping this secret for 60 years out of fear of harming the farmworkers' movement.
"I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life's work," she said.
Huerta explained that she was manipulated and coerced into having sex in two separate incidents, both of which resulted in pregnancy.
In addition to Huerta, the investigation also included testimony from Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, who reported that Chavez sexually abused them as children in the 1970s.
Ana Murguia was 13 when Chavez attempted to have sex with her, while Debra Rojas said Chavez raped her when she was 15 and began groping her at age 12.
Both women suffered from depression, panic attacks, and substance abuse for decades because of their secret.
A third woman, Esmeralda Lopez, also reported that Chavez tried to pressure her into having sex with him when she was 19, offering his influence in exchange.
Impact and Public Reaction to the Allegations
The United Farm Workers (UFW) and the Cesar Chavez Foundation have issued statements acknowledging the allegations, calling them "disturbing," "shocking," and "indefensible."
Both organizations have canceled their participation in Cesar Chavez Day celebrations.
Lawmakers, union leaders, and various community organizations expressed shock and disgust.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that "the farmworker movement and the labor movement are much bigger than one person," suggesting the need to separate individuals from movements.
Several institutions in Oregon are considering removing Chávez's name from schools and streets, while the Portland city council wants to rename César E. Chávez Boulevard after Dolores Huerta.
The Chávez family expressed "devastated" by the news and honored the voices of survivors.
Redebating Cesar Chavez's Legacy
These revelations have significantly re-invigorated the debate over Cesar Chavez's legacy.
Chavez, who died in 1993, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 and honored with numerous streets, parks, and state holidays.
Now, allegations of sexual abuse against young women and minors, including Huerta, have led to widespread condemnation and the removal of many of his associations with streets and celebrations named after him.