Rev. Michelle's Message March 19, 2026

Yesterday I opened up my Facebook to find my feed full of articles about the allegations of sexual violence and misconduct against the late United Farm Workers’ Union co-founder, Cesar Chavez. I would like to say I was shocked, but I fear I am becoming accustomed to these disheartening revelations about men I once considered great.

In case you missed it, the newest allegations come from Dolores Huerta, Chavez’s co-founder of the UFW, who worked very closely with him throughout the farm workers’ labor movement in the 1960s and 1970s. In a very candid statement, Huerta says that she was sexually assaulted by Chavez on two occasions, both of which resulted in pregnancies with babies she gave up for adoption.

Perhaps the most upsetting thing for me comes, not from the allegations themselves, but from the predictable responses that can be found in the comment section of any related article. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people are asking the same old questions: Why now? Why didn’t she report this when it happened or when Cesar Chavez was still alive? Why now when he can’t defend himself?

While many people are speaking out to say they believe her, there are still so very many that are questioning her truth, claiming it must have been a consensual affair, and even casting doubt on her own sexual integrity. It’s hard to believe people find it so easy to call a 96-year-old woman a s**t. I guess that is somehow easier than accepting that your hero may not have been the nice guy you thought he was.

The irony is that by posting these comments, people are literally answering their own question as to why women don’t speak up about sexual assault. Ms. Huerta says she didn’t speak up previously to avoid jeopardizing the movement that was her life’s work. I completely believe that to be her main reason, but it’s pretty obvious that women commonly don’t speak up because people don’t believe them. And more often than not, the women’s own behavior and integrity become the focus of public scrutiny rather than the men who committed the assaults.

In her statement, Ms. Huerta also explains that she is speaking out now because a New York Times investigation has recently revealed allegations that Chavez groomed and sexually abused young women during his tenure as president of the UFW, and Huerta was sure to be named in the article. She told her truth in order to stand in solidarity with and lend credence to these other survivors of Chavez’ assaults.

Honestly, people in the comments sections seem more concerned that Mr. Chavez will not have the opportunity to defend himself and his legacy than they are troubled that a woman was sexually assaulted by a man she trusted, suffered the loss of two children, and had to hide her pain and live with this secret for so many decades.

I have a couple of personal connections to Ms. Huerta myself. In 1989, while attending UC Santa Cruz, I lived in “H” dorm, which had been named for Huerta. She came to the official dedication ceremony for our dorm and I had the opportunity to meet her. Also, she just happens to be the aunt of Rev. Jacquie Fernandez, the minister friend of mine I talked about last week who participated in the peaceful protest against anti-trans legislation at the capitol in Kansas.

As far as Cesar Chavez’s legacy, yes, it is extremely sad to see someone who was revered as a hero by so many be toppled from their pedestal. We have seen this happen over and over with so many historical figures. It is sad, yes, but the truth must come out. Only then will we be able to engage in a real conversation about toxic masculinity and sexual assault.

For so many years, Dolores Huerta has lived in the shadow of Cesar Chavez’s fame. Maybe it’s time we took a closer look at her powerful and indelible contribution to the farmworkers’ movement and lifelong dedication to her community. Perhaps she was the hero we were looking for all along.

Blessings of Peace and Justice,

Rev. Michelle

#unity #unityofmontereybay #peace #justice #doloreshuerta #hero