Dolores Huerta Breaks Silence on Cesar Chavez Allegations in Exclusive ABC News Interview

Labor rights icon Dolores Huerta has publicly addressed her claims against fellow farmworker rights advocate Cesar Chavez for the first time, detailing years of private anguish and explaining her reasons for finally coming forward.

Huerta recounted that Chavez coerced her into sexual relations when she was in her twenties and later sexually assaulted her.

She revealed that she gave birth to two children as a result of these encounters and made arrangements for them to be raised by other families.

According to Huerta, Chavez pressured her to have sex with him when she was in her 20s and later raped her.

She said she had two children as a result of the encounters and arranged for both to be raised by other families.

The allegations surfaced publicly following a New York Times investigation that reported Chavez had groomed and sexually abused women and minors.

In her interview, Huerta reacted to hearing the stories of others, saying it sickened her.

“Even more than sick, it’s devastating,” she said. “It’s devastating because Cesar spoke about and practiced the nonviolent movement. Well, what could be more violent than that, you know? To think that somebody that we looked at as our hero and our leader, you know, it’s pretty horrible.”

Huerta said after hearing allegations from other women, she wanted to support them. She said that she intends to continue advocating for farmworkers’ rights as the public reassesses Chavez’s place in history.

When she was asked whether the revelations could damage Chavez’s legacy, Huerta said: “Well, I would hope that his legacy would live on in the things that were accomplished. The improvements that were made, and it’s sad to think that he had this dark side to him.”

Several planned Cesar Chavez Day celebrations across the country have already been canceled.