Cesar Chavez, once revered as a symbol of the political left, is now facing posthumous accusations of grooming and sexually abusing girls as young as 12.
Chavez was a dynamic advocate for farmworkers’ rights, famously leading strikes and hunger strikes to demand better wages and working conditions for migrant laborers involved in grape picking and other agricultural tasks.
In 1962, Chavez established the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, becoming a prominent figure in the Latino civil rights movement. His legacy endures, celebrated in murals at schools nationwide, and his birthday is recognized as a holiday in several states, including California.
Chavez, who was of Mexican-American descent, passed away in 1993 at the age of 66.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Upon taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden placed a bust of Chavez in the Oval Office, notably replacing one of Winston Churchill.
Now, in an exposé that will send shockwaves through the country, the New York Times revealed allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior and abuse by two women, who were girls at the time in the 1970s.
His fellow iconic labor leader Dolores Huerta, now aged 96, also claimed Chavez forced her to have sex in a grape field in 1966.
Cesar Chavez, the iconic labor leader, has been accused of abusing girls
The two girls were both daughters of fellow protest marchers, and are both now aged 66.
One told the newspaper she was summoned to Chavez’s office when she was 13 and he was 45.
She claimed he locked the door, led her to a yoga mat and sexually assaulted her, telling her ‘Don’t tell anyone, they’d get jealous.’
She claimed he molested her dozens of times over the next four years.
Another claimed she was 12 when Chavez first groped her breasts in his office, and that there were further assaults for several years.
Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW with Chavez, came up with the workers’ clarion call ‘Sí, se puede’ – ‘Yes, we can.’
She claimed Chavez ‘manipulated and pressured’ her to have sex.
Once, in 1966 in Delano, California, Chavez drove her out to a grape field and forced her to have sex ‘against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped,’ she told the New York Times.
She became pregnant twice and arranged for the children to be given to other families, the newspaper reported.
‘Unfortunately, he used some of his great leadership to abuse women and children. It’s really awful,’ Huerta said.
Joe Biden placed a bust of Cesar Chavez behind him in the Oval Office
Dolores Huerta, Chavez’s fellow labor leader, made allegations against him
In a statement Chavez’s family said they were ‘not in a position to judge’ the claims.
They said: ‘As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual misconduct. These allegations are deeply painful to our family.’
The New York Times investigation said the two girls had gone on to suffer depression and panic attacks.
UFW announced it will not take part in annual celebrations of Chavez.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation, which preserves memorials including his grave in California, said there were allegations that Chavez ‘behaved in ways that are incompatible with our organization’s values.’
The foundation added that it had no direct reports or firsthand knowledge of the claims.
Cesar Chavez seen in a California union office in 1965
United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez (right) joined Jesse Jackson (left) on a march in McFarland, California in 1988
In a statement it said: ‘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.’
The foundation said it would work with the UFW to create confidential channels for those who may have been harmed by Chavez.
A statue of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is displayed at the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on March 18, 2026 in San Fernando, California
A mural of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez is displayed at the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Park on March 18, 2026 in San Fernando, California
Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, his birthday, was named a federal commemorative holiday by President Barack Obama in 2014, and it is a state holiday in several states including California and Texas.
The day has historically included marches, service projects and educational programs.
UFW said it would not participate in any events this year, and some cities were canceling or renaming activities.
Chavez married Helen Fabela in 1948 and they had eight children between 1949 and 1958. Fabela died in 2016.
