Cesar Chavez is facing explosive abuse allegations decades after his death, and one account is especially disturbing

Decades after his death, civil rights icon Cesar Chavez is facing allegations of sexual abuse, including claims from his United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The accusations have prompted widespread condemnation and led to the cancellation or renaming of several events tied to Cesar Chavez Day, observed annually on March 31.

As first highlighted by BBC News, Huerta alleges that in the 1960s Chavez “manipulated and pressured” her into sex and, on another occasion, forced her. Huerta, now 95, said the encounters resulted in pregnancies that she kept secret, arranging for the children to be raised by other families while continuing her work in the farmworker movement.

Two additional women, Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, have also come forward with allegations that Chavez sexually abused them. He did so between approximately 1972 and 1977, when they were minors and Chavez was in his 40s.

The fallout is already reshaping Chavez’s legacy

Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, was a central figure in the U.S. labor and civil rights movements, known for organizing boycotts and marches to improve conditions for farmworkers. These allegations have prompted institutions and officials to reassess how he is commemorated, amid unlawful detainment scrutiny.

The Chavez family said it was devastated by the reports and commended the women for coming forward. The Cesar Chavez Foundation also acknowledged the “disturbing allegations,” stating it is deeply shocked and working with farmworker movement leaders to address the situation and support those affected.

The United Farm Workers said it has no direct reports or firsthand knowledge of the allegations but announced it will cancel its participation in Cesar Chavez Day events. That decision reflects how quickly public institutions can move when allegations force broader accountability questions into view.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the labor movement is “much bigger than one man” and expressed support for the women who came forward, while indicating openness to renaming the holiday. Republican Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has introduced legislation to change the name to Farmworker Day, shifting the focus to the broader movement, as lawmakers also press big tech handout questions.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the allegations as a “sickening reality” and called for continued efforts to address systemic harm against women. The League of United Latin American Citizens stated that no individual is above accountability when it comes to protecting the dignity of others.