FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The family of Cesar Chavez released a statement on Wednesday, after civil rights leader Dolores Huerta said Chavez sexually assaulted her.
“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, the statement read in part.
Her statement came the day after the Cesar Chavez Foundation broke the news, saying it has learned of “disturbing allegations” that labor leader Cesar Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors during his time as president of the United Farm Workers of America.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing,” the foundation said.
The Chavez family released the following:Our family is devastated by today’s New York Times article about our father, Cesar Chavez. This is deeply painful for our family. We wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. 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. We carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people. We remain committed to farmworkers and the causes he and countless others championed and continue to champion. We ask for understanding and privacy as we continue to process this difficult information.