Quick Take
Santa Cruz County leaders and organizations are responding to allegations of sexual abuse against late labor leader César Chávez, who was a prominent figure in the farmworker and Latino communities.
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Along Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz, drivers can almost always catch a glimpse of late labor leader César Chávez’s face on a mural on the side of the building home to nonprofit Barrios Unidos while commuting east toward Live Oak and Capitola.
Now, a day after allegations against Chávez surfaced, the mural is covered in black paint as community leaders locally and statewide continue to process the news.
A New York Times investigation published earlier this week details allegations that Chávez sexually abused and groomed girls as young as 12 years old. Longtime labor leader Dolores Huerta, who worked alongside Chávez fighting for farmworker rights, also told the Times that he sexually assaulted her twice.
Huerta, who visited Watsonville in October to speak at the “No Kings” protest, told the Times both encounters with Chávez led to pregnancies, and added that she kept it a secret because it would’ve hurt the farmworker movement. In a separate statement published Wednesday, Huerta, 95, said following the Times’ investigation and learning of other victims, she felt encouraged to speak out.
“I have never identified myself as a victim, but now I 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,” Huerta said in the statement.
Chávez rose to prominence in the 1960s fighting for better health care, wages and living conditions for farmworkers across the country. He brought attention to the issues through a series of grueling fasts, grape boycotts and marches, becoming the face of the farmworker movement. Huerta and Chávez co-founded the United Farm Workers, the first union representing farmworkers, in 1962.
For decades, the Latino community — including Santa Cruz County, where there’s a big farmworker community — has revered Chávez for his efforts to improve working conditions for agricultural workers, and for giving voice to the community’s issues at the national level.
“In moments like this, our community is looking for honesty, accountability, and compassion,” said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez in a written statement to Lookout. “The allegations we are hearing are serious and painful, and we must ensure that those who come forward are treated with respect and supported every step of the way.”
Hernandez said it’s important to “recognize that the legacy of the farmworker movement is rooted in collective strength, sacrifice and resilience of countless workers and families.”
Hours after the Times investigation was published, the nonprofit Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services issued a statement on social media that it was changing the name of its community impact award, just a week before its ceremony. The decision reflects the group’s mission to ensure the award aligns with the values of the community, according to the statement.
“While this moment is disappointing, we will continue to turn to our community for strength, guidance and inspiration,” the organization said. “Watsonville’s strength has always come from its people — their resilience, their compassion and commitment to lifting one another up. That is what we will continue to honor and celebrate.”
Activist Omar Dieguez told Lookout that he stands with Huerta and other victims who are suffering from these allegations, and “wants to give them the respect and time, and just give them their space.”
Barrios Unidos, which focuses on social justice, nonviolence and community empowerment, removed all its imagery of Chávez from its windows, including painting over a large mural on the side of its building. The organization was set to host a celebration commemorating Chávez’s birthday on March 29, and has not made any announcement about whether it will move forward with the event.
“We stand with Dolores Huerta and the victims of this tragedy,” the organization said in a post to social media Thursday afternoon. “Accountability is healing. Let’s continue to uplift the labor movement and farmworkers struggle.”
Local education officials are beginning to reevaluate commemorations and schools named after Chávez. County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah called the allegations about Chávez “horrifying and heartbreaking,” and added that the agency stands in solidarity with Huerta and all survivors that have come forward.
Sabbah added that the state Department of Education has indicated that it will update educational resources related to the farmworker movement.
Cabrillo College announced Thursday morning it will be renaming its observance of César Ch´Avez Day on March 31 to Farmworkers Rights Day to reflect “a renewed commitment to social justice, human dignity and rights of farmworkers.”
State legislators are beginning to take similar actions, moving to change the name of the state holiday in the wake of the allegations. Cities across California are beginning discussions about renaming streets and parks, and several college campuses have covered statues of Chávez.
At Wednesday’s Pajaro Valley Unified School District board meeting, trustee Gabe Medina urged the community to begin discussing renaming Watsonville’s César E. Chávez Middle School after Huerta, to put her at “the center of the story.”
“This is not just a story about one man’s fall from a pedestal,” Medina said about Chavez. “It is a story about how often our women are asked to sacrifice their safety, their well-being, and even their voices for the cause.”
Trustee Misty Navarro expressed similar sentiments. She said she hoped that Chávez’s actions do not take away from all the hard work others have done.
“To that effect, I also was going to suggest that we have a discussion as a community about whether or not we would like to maybe change some of the facilities that are attributed to him, to Dolores Huerta,” Navarro said. “All too often, the contributions of women have been overlooked over the years by stronger men or men with more power.”
Hillary Ojeda contributed reporting to this story.