Dolores Huerta labor leader who revealed Cesar Chavezs secrets

Dolores Huerta, who died Wednesday at the age of 96, will always be remembered as a towering figure in the history of the American labor movement.But she will also be remembered for exposing the abusive behavior of Cesar Chavez. Earlier this year — just months before she died — Huerta told the New York Times that Chavez had raped her, twice.

On both occasions, the rapes led to pregnancies.Huerta delivered the babies, and hid them with other families.That is the extent to which the labor movement was prepared to go to cover up Chavez’s behavior — and Huerta regretted it.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story In a statement, Huerta said that Chavez was known to have abused women — and even children. She admitted that she had kept silent for 60 years, because “I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.”The movement came first — even if that meant that other women and children might be victimized.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!In the end, that was a moral burden Huerta could no longer bear. It is difficult to judge Huerta for her long silence — especially as she was a victim of sexual violence.

She also had children to protect.But others who had not suffered directly also knew, and they said nothing.That was why the labor movement never pushed back against the allegations, and why Chavez’s name was removed almost instantly from schools, roads, and even public holidays.They knew.Huerta’s brave, belated reve...