Elected leaders in Los Angeles are standing with farmworker leader Dolores Huerta and other women who, in a New York Times investigation, publicly accused labor rights icon César Chávez of sexually assaulting them in the 1970s.
Leaders are now calling for accountability and a public reckoning of Chávez’s legacy.
“The recent reports detailing abuse by Cesar Chavez are devastating for the victims, their families, and everyone inspired by his work,” LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said in a statement.
“Honoring the broader movement for justice requires us to be honest about its history, even when that truth is painful. Accountability and compassion can coexist, and both are necessary to move forward with integrity,” her statement continued.
“Today is a reminder that movements must extend beyond their leaders and be grounded in their missions, and it is our collective responsibility to foster environments that protect the vulnerable, challenge silence, and uphold the safety and humanity of all,” she added.
Mayor Karen Bass also pointed to the ongoing issue of women and girls being harmed by people in power.
“Real progress requires more than moments of reckoning – it demands sustained action to dismantle social, cultural, economic, and political structures that have hurt women throughout our history,” she said in a statement. “Dolores and leaders like her inspired so many of us to activism. Mr. Chavez’s crimes do not diminish the courage of farm workers and workers everywhere who fight for their rights, equality for Latinos, and a stronger nation for everyone.”
City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez described Huerta as one of her greatest inspirations.
“To know that she, one of the most powerful champions of labor in our time, endured violence against her body, mind, and spirit in the name of that same movement is heartbreaking. That she carried that truth buried in silence and isolation for so many decades speaks to the impossible choices so many survivors are forced to make,” she said.
“Patriarchy relies on silence. It tries to convince us that harm is part of the sacrifice, that our bodies are collateral in the fight for something greater. That is a lie,” she continued. “Real movements, the ones that truly challenge power and systems of oppression, are built on care, on accountability, on respect, on love, and on the commitment to protect one another.”
State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez of District 54 said he was “deeply horrified and disturbed” by the allegations against Chávez.
“My mother, a survivor of domestic violence, has lived with lasting trauma, so I have seen firsthand the toll that abuse takes on a person and a family,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “For far too long, survivors have been silenced or made to feel that their truth does not matter.”
Gonzalez said he was in conversations with the state’s Latino Caucus about a response, which he said could include renaming the state holiday.
“Today, we witnessed strength and courage in Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguía, and Debra Rojas for speaking out and sharing their truth,” he added. “Dolores, I stand with you and with all survivors. In this state, sexual violence will never be tolerated.”
Huerta, 95, helped organize a labor strike in 1965 with labor organizers, including Chávez. She told the New York Times that Chávez raped her in 1966. She confirmed the reporting in a statement issued on Wednesday.
She said she had two sexual encounters — one involving coercion and the other force — and was reluctant to discuss the situation given Chávez’s status in the movement. She became pregnant both times, Huerta said.
“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,” Huerta said in the statement.
LA City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district includes César Chávez Avenue, described Huerta as a deep inspiration.
“I came into office inspired by the resilience of grassroots leaders like Dolores Huerta, whose unwavering commitment to justice has guided every step of my work,” she said. “My heart is with Dolores Huerta, Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and all those who have been impacted, and I recognize how much courage it takes to come forward.”
She also called for the renaming of all landmarks and events honoring Chávez.
“I am deeply troubled by the accounts about Cesar Chavez that have emerged. No legacy should be beyond scrutiny. These painful accounts mean that now is the time to rethink how we honor the farmworker movement and affirm our commitment to the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights,” she said. “I am calling for the renaming of all public locations and events that bear his name, as we prioritize accountability and stand with those who have been harmed.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn on X said it’s time to rename César Chávez Day to ‘Farmworker Day’ in Los Angeles County.
“I’m horrified by the abuse we now know Dolores Huerta & other women suffered, but I’m moved by their incredible courage in telling their stories publicly all these years later,” Hahn said. “What matters most now is we listen & support them as well as any other woman who suffered this abuse.”
“For those of us who grew up admiring the farmworker movement, today’s news is heartbreaking. But as in any other civil rights movement, men were only half the story,” she continued. “The abuses of one man will never diminish the extraordinary sacrifices, accomplishments, and legacy of the women of the farmworker movement. It’s time we put them first.”
Fellow County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who said she counted Huerta as a close friend, praised the courage of the survivors who came forward. She also gave more details about her plans for public accountability.
“As we reckon with these revelations, Los Angeles County must take thoughtful and deliberate action. I will be introducing a motion to explore renaming the County holiday that currently recognizes Cesar Chavez,” she said. “This process will be guided by community and labor partners and grounded in the same collective bargaining process that established the holiday. The motion will also direct an exploration of renaming parks, streets, County facilities, real property, monuments, and other County programs that bear the name of Cesar Chavez, including the removal of related imagery in civic artworks, with decisions guided by community engagement.”
“We can continue to honor the farmworker movement and its enduring contributions while also confronting difficult truths,” Solis continued. “Our responsibility is to center survivors, demand accountability, and ensure that our public recognitions reflect our shared values.”
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla also said he stood with the survivors and called for them to be heard, supported and treated with respect.
“There must be zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, and the silencing of victims, no matter who is involved,” he said in a statement.
“Confronting painful truths and ensuring accountability is essential to honoring the very values the greater farm worker movement stands for — values rooted in dignity and justice for all.”