ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Several events in New Mexico honoring labor leader Cesar Chavez are being reconsidered following new sexual abuse allegations detailed in a New York Times investigation.
The report includes accounts from women who say Chavez engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior decades ago, including allegations involving minors. Chavez, a nationally recognized civil rights figure and co‑founder of the United Farm Workers, died in 1993.
In response, the United Farm Workers and the Cesar Chavez Foundation acknowledged the allegations, describing them as deeply troubling. Both organizations say they do not have firsthand knowledge of the claims but are taking them seriously and reviewing next steps.
The developments are resonating locally in New Mexico, where Chavez’s legacy is visible in schools, streets, and annual community events. Some organizations that typically observe Cesar Chavez Day on March 31 are canceling or reevaluating planned celebrations.
Dolores Huerta, a longtime civil rights leader who worked alongside Chavez and originates from New Mexico, released a statement this week describing her own experiences and supporting others who have come forward.
“The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me,” Huerta said. “My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years.”
Huerta added that while the allegations are painful, the broader work of advocating for workers’ rights must continue.
“We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever,” she said.
