A Latino civil rights leader is accused of the sexual abuse of teenage girls. The reaction in Texas has been swift.
Explosive Allegations of Abuse Surface Against Cesar Chavez
For decades, Cesar Chavez stood as an untouchable icon of the Latino civil rights movement. His name and image are everywhere from schools and streets, and his birthday is a celebrated state holiday. This may change following an in depth investigation by The New York Times that has revealed allegations of sexual abuse against the co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) co-founder.
Voices from the Shadows
The investigation centers on the gut-wrenching accounts of Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, who allege that Chavez began sexually abusing them in the early 1970s when they were just 13 and 12 years old, respectively. Murguia remembers being summoned to Chavez’s rundown office in Bakersfield, where she said he would lock the door and abuse her on his mediation mat.She said he told her not to tell anyone because they would be jealous.
Silence to Protect the UFW
Many may be tempted to discount the words of two girls (now grown women), but you would also have to discount the account of abuse by Dolores Huerta, the legendary activist who co-founded the UFW alongside Chavez. Now 95 years old, Huerta revealed publicly for the first time that Chavez raped her in a secluded grape field in 1966. She said she stayed quiet all these years in order to protect the UFW. According to the New York Times, Huerta said, “Unfortunately, he used some of his great leadership to abuse women and children—it’s really awful.”
The Texas Response
The state of Texas and the city of Austin have effectively ended official recognition of Cesar Chavez Day following the reports.
Statewide Action: Governor Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday, March 18, that the State of Texas will no longer observe the March 31 holiday. He has directed all state agency heads to comply and stated his intent to work with lawmakers to permanently remove the holiday from state law during the next legislative session.
Austin ISD: The Texas Values organization has formally called on Austin ISD to cancel the student and staff holiday scheduled for March 31. There is a significant push to restore “Good Friday” as the primary holiday in its place…