Allegations that the late labor organizer Cesar Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct and may have abused young women or girls have come to light, prompting the union he co-founded to announce it will not participate in annual commemorations of him, organizations said on Tuesday.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation, which is charged with maintaining a number of memorials including Chavez’s gravesite in California, said the reported "inappropriate sexual behavior" took place while Chavez was serving as president of the United Farm Workers union, which he and others established in 1962.
The United Farm Workers said it had received accounts alleging Chavez "behaved in ways that are incompatible with our organization’s values," while noting that the union possessed no direct reports or firsthand knowledge of the claims.
In a statement, the union 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."
Cesar Chavez Day - observed on March 31, his birthday - was designated a federal commemorative holiday by President Barack Obama in 2014 and is observed as a state holiday in several states including California and Texas. Traditionally, the day has featured marches, volunteer service projects and educational programs.
The UFW said it would abstain from involvement in any events this year, and media reports indicate that some municipalities are canceling or renaming activities tied to the holiday.
The emergence of these allegations comes at a time when public attitudes toward sexual abuse and assault have evolved considerably, following the Me Too movement and broad media attention given to other high-profile abuse cases, including the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Chavez rose to international prominence through organized boycotts and public fasts aimed at pressuring for higher wages and improved working conditions for migrant agricultural laborers, including grape pickers. He died in 1993 at the age of 66.
Personal details noted in a California state biography include his 1948 marriage to Helen Fabela and the couple’s eight children, born between 1949 and 1958. Fabela died in 2016. In 1994, Chavez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation said it will coordinate with the United Farm Workers to establish confidential channels for anyone who believes they were harmed by Chavez, allowing people to share experiences and seek support.
Where this stands
The allegations are currently reported by the foundation and referenced by the union. The union has stated it lacks direct or firsthand reports and has framed some accounts as family matters; it has also expressed deep concern about allegations that involve very young women or girls.
Decisions by the UFW and some cities to withdraw from or alter commemorative events reflect a reassessment of public observances in light of the reported claims.