“The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. … I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here.”
In the wake of newly reported sexual abuse allegations against labor leader César Chávez, including a New York Times investigation featuring an interview with Dolores Huerta, our hearts are with our long-time Ms. advisor, Feminist Majority Foundation (publisher of Ms.) board member, friend, and feminist and labor icon. The fact that Dolores felt she had to bear this in silence speaks to the layers of harm that women who suffer sexual assault must bear.
Her strength, moral clarity and courage remain undaunted, and if nothing else, are strengthened given what she went through. We celebrate Dolores and the important work she did to create a movement that brought better working and living conditions to tens of thousands of hard-working people and inspire millions around the world. That fact is not diminished.
We stand with every survivor who is watching this moment and wondering whether their story matters. It does.
On Wednesday, March 18, Huerta issued the following statement. (A Spanish version is below; a continuación se muestra una versión en español.)
“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.
“I have encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New York Times’ multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by César Chávez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.
“As a young mother in the 1960s, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with Cesar. 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.
“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.
“Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, who are now close to my other children, their siblings. But even then, no one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.
“I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn’t going to let Cesar or anyone else get in the way. I channeled everything I had into advocating on behalf of millions of farmworkers and others who were suffering and deserved equal rights.
“I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor—of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control.
“I am telling my story because the New York Times has indicated that I was not the only one—there were others. Women are coming forward, sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted by Cesar when they were girls and teenagers.
“The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. Cesar’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement.
“The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. Cesar’s actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.
“I will continue my commitments to workers, as well as my commitment to women’s rights, to make sure we have a voice and that our communities are treated with dignity and given the equity that they have so long been denied.
“I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here.
“If you are a survivor or if you have been impacted by any type of sexual violence, please visit the Dolores Huerta Foundation website, where you will find a list of resources for support.”
The following statement is from the Feminist Majority Foundation board:
“We stand with Dolores Huerta.
“Dolores has been a member of the Feminist Majority Foundation board and a close friend for decades. We have witnessed her extraordinary courage and moral clarity firsthand—which is precisely why we are not surprised she is speaking now, and not surprised she bore this alone for so long. Both facts are consistent with who she is.
“The silence she kept for 60 years was not weakness. It was the impossible weight that survivors of sexual violence are forced to carry—often to protect others, often at profound cost to themselves. That she carried it while simultaneously building one of the most important labor movements in American history makes her courage almost incomprehensible.
“We also believe the women and girls who were harmed by César Chávez. They deserve to be heard.
“What Dolores helped create—better working conditions and dignity for millions of farmworkers—stands on its own. One man’s actions cannot diminish what thousands of people built together.
“We will continue to stand with Dolores, with all survivors, and with the movements she has devoted her life to.”
De Dolores Huerta, en español:
“Tengo casi 96 años y durante los últimos 60, he guardado un secreto porque creí que exponer la verdad dañaría al movimiento de campesinos por el cual he luchado mi vida entera.”
“Siempre he motivado a las personas a utilizar su voz. Después de la investigación del New York Times de varios años sobre la conducta sexual inapropiada de César Chávez, ya no puedo mantenerme en silencio y debo compartir mis propias experiencias.
“Como madre joven en los años 1960, viví dos actos sexuales separados con César. La primera vez fui manipulada y presionada para tener sexo con él, y sentí que no podía decir que no porque él era alguien a quien yo admiraba: mi jefe y el líder del movimiento al que ya le había dedicado años de mi vida. La segunda vez fui forzada, contra mi voluntad y en un ambiente en el que me sentía atrapada.
“Había vivido abuso y violencia sexual antes y me convencí de que tenía que soportar estos incidentes sola y en secreto. Ambos actos sexuales con César resultaron en embarazos. Decidí mantener mis embarazos en secreto y después de que nacieron mis niños, hice arreglos para que fueran criados por otras familias que pudieran darles una vida estable.
“A lo largo de los años, tuve la fortuna de desarrollar una relación profunda con estos niños, quienes ahora son muy cercanos a mis otros hijos, sus hermanos. Pero aun así, nadie sabía la verdad completa sobre el modo en que fueron concebidos hasta hace unas semanas.
“Cargué con este secreto durante todo este tiempo porque construir el movimiento y asegurar los derechos de los campesinos fue el trabajo de mi vida. El desarrollo de la unión fue el único vehículo para lograr y asegurar esos derechos y no iba a dejar que César ni nadie más obstruyeran el camino. Puse todo lo que tenía en la abogacía y defensa de miles de campesinos y de otros que sufrían y merecían los mismos derechos.
“Nunca me he identificado como una víctima, pero ahora entiendo que soy una sobreviviente — de violencia, de abuso sexual, de hombres manipuladores que me veían a mí y a otras mujeres como propiedad y objetos de control.
“Estoy compartiendo mi historia porque el New York Times ha indicado que no fui la única — había otras. Más mujeres están alzando su voz, compartiendo que fueron abusadas sexualmente y agredidas por César cuando eran niñas y adolescentes.
“Saber que él dañó a niñas me enfurece. Mi corazón sufre por aquellas que han tenido que sufrir solas y en silencio durante años. No hay palabras lo suficientemente fuertes para condenar las acciones deplorables que él cometió. Las acciones de César no reflejan los valores de nuestra comunidad ni los de nuestro movimiento.
“El movimiento de los campesinos siempre ha sido mayor y mucho más importante que el de cualquier individuo. Las acciones de César no disminuyen los avances permanentes logrados a favor de los campesinos con la ayuda de miles de personas. Debemos continuar participando y apoyando a nuestra comunidad, que más que nunca necesita abogacía y activismo.
“Continuaré con mi compromiso con los trabajadores, así como con los derechos de las mujeres, para asegurar que tengamos una voz, que nuestras comunidades sean tratadas con dignidad y que se les dé la equidad que se les ha negado durante mucho tiempo.
“He guardado este secreto demasiado tiempo. Mi silencio acaba aquí.”
“Si eres sobreviviente o has sido afectado por cualquier tipo de violencia sexual, visita la página web de la Fundación de Dolores Huerta y encontrarás una lista de recursos de apoyo.”
Survivors deserve support and options.
24/7 support:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE or rainn.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE or thehotline.org
- StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
- Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
Local help: Search RAINN’s directory to find a nearby rape crisis center for free, confidential counseling, advocacy and support.
Medical care: You can go to an ER for a forensic exam (rape kit), even if you’re not ready to report. Advocates can support you through the process.
Know your options: Hotlines and local centers can help with emotional support, safety planning and understanding your legal choices. Reporting is always your decision.
