Cesar Chavez Foundation 'deeply shocked' over allegations against civil rights leader

Several "Cesar Chavez Day" activities are reportedly being canceled across the country amid allegations made against the late labor leader and civil rights activist.

The Cesar Chavez Foundation said in a statement that it was aware Chavez had been accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior with women and minors during his time as president of the United Farm Workers of America.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing,” the foundation said in a statement.

The United Farm Workers also issued a statement it learned of “deeply troubling allegations” that Chavez, one of the union’s co-founders, “behaved in ways that are incompatible with our organization’s values.”

UFW in its statement said the allegations include “very young women or girls may have been victimized.” The union added it has not received direct reports and does not have any firsthand knowledge of the allegations.

UFW also said it will not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities on March 31.

Chavez, who made San Jose his home, helped create and lead the farmworkers movement.

Chavez also is credited with founding, along with Dolores Huerta, La Union de Pueblo Entero, LUPE, a community activist group in south Texas.

The group was more direct in its statement, saying allegations about Chavez involve "inappropriate sexual misconduct with women and abuse of teenage girls." The group encouraged "people harmed by Cesar Chavez" to come forward through a confident and independent process it said it is establishing.

The group also canceled its activities.

Here is the statement LUPE posted on its Facebook page:

Here’s the full UFW statement:

“The UFW has learned of deeply troubling allegations that one of the union’s co-founders, Cesar Chavez, behaved in ways that are incompatible with our organization’s values. Some of the reports are family issues, and not our story to tell or our place to comment on. Far more troubling are allegations involving abuse of young women or minors. Allegations that very young women or girls may have been victimized are crushing. We have not received any direct reports, and we do not have any firsthand knowledge of these allegations. However, the allegations are serious enough that we feel compelled to take urgent steps to learn more and provide space for people who may have been victimized to find support and to share their stories if that is what they choose.

The United Farm Workers will not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities.Instead, we call on our allies and supporters to take part in immigration justice events and acts of service to support farmworkers or empower vulnerable people in their own communities.

Over the coming weeks, in partnership with experts in these kinds of processes, we are working to establish an external, confidential, independent channel for those who may have experienced harm caused by Cesar Chavez during the early days of the UFW’s history. This channel is for those who wish to share their experiences of harm, to identify their current impacts and needs, and, if desired, to participate in a collective process to develop mechanisms for repair and accountability.

We are grateful to the support of experts who can help us seek the truth that is the first step toward healing.

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These allegations have been profoundly shocking. We need some time to get this right, including to ensure robust, trauma-informed services are available to those who may need it.

We understand this will be tremendously painful for many and we encourage our community to seek mental health support if they experience distress.

Today’s UFW is a modern and progressive labor union and we will seek to learn from our history.

Farm workers are winning new union contracts, and the United Farm Workers is fighting to protect immigrant communities from the wage cuts, violence and attacks farm workers face today. The work to support the farm workers who feed our nation is more important than ever, and this work will continue.”

Here’s the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s full statement:

The Cesar Chavez Foundation has become aware of disturbing allegations that Cesar Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors during his time as President of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW).

We are deeply shocked and saddened by what we are hearing.

“The Foundation is working with leaders in the Farmworker Movement to be responsive to these allegations, support the people who may have been harmed by his actions, and ensure we are united and guided by our commitment to justice and community empowerment.

In partnership with the UFW, we are establishing a safe and confidential process for those who wish to share their experiences of historic harm, and, if they choose to, participate in efforts toward repair and reconciliation.

In addition, we are investing time and resources to ensure the Foundation promotes and strengthens a workplace culture that is safe and welcoming for all.

We ask for our community’s patience as we learn more. Throughout this process, our organization and our partners in the movement will continue our work together to protect and uplift the families and communities that we serve.

Today, the Cesar Chavez Foundation impacts the lives of millions of Latinos and working families across the Southwest by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural, and community needs.”