After six decades, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta has broken her silence and shared a secret that she had told no one until now.
In a recent investigation by The New York Times, Huerta, who grew up in Stockton, shared labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez sexually assaulted her, which resulted in two pregnancies.
Huerta shared a statement on Wednesday, March 18, about her experiences and why she remained silent for decades.
“I am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for,” Huerta said in her statement. “As a young mother in the 1960s, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with Cesar. The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, and I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to. The second time I was forced, against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped.”
In her full statement, Huerta said she never identified as a “victim,” but now understands she is a sexual assault survivor.
“I am telling my story because the New York Times has indicated that I was not the only one — there were others. Women are coming forward, sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted by Cesar when they were girls and teenagers,” Huerta said. “The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. Cesar’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement.”
The full statement can be found at medium.com/@dolores_huerta.
California and Stockton leaders react to Cesar Chavez allegations
Gov. Gavin Newsom took to X on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the Cesar Chavez allegations and Dolores Huerta sharing her story.
“The farm workers movement and a labor movement are much bigger than one man,” Newsom said in an X post. “@JenSiebelNewsom and I stand with the courageous women, like Dolores Huerta, who have stepped forward after decades of concealing pain and abuse. We’re for justice. We’re for truth. We’re for transparency. And we will have the backs of these survivors.”
Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee releases a statement supporting Huerta
Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee released a statement Wednesday sharing his support to Huerta and his own experience as a survivor of sexual abuse as a child.
“Dolores Huerta’s decades of dedication, leadership, and advocacy for farmworkers, immigrants, and marginalized communities has shaped the labor movement in ways that will be felt for generations. To learn of the abuse she endured — and her decision to carry that pain in silence to protect a movement she helped build — is both shocking and deeply heartbreaking,” Lee said in the statement. “As a survivor of child molestation myself, I understand the weight of shame, guilt, and the complicated emotions that often come with protecting your abuser. It is a burden no one should have to carry. I want to thank Dolores Huerta for her courage in coming forward and for transforming her pain into power. Her voice continues to uplift not only farmworkers, but all survivors who are navigating their own journeys toward healing.”
Lee added he stands with Huerta, with farmworkers and with everyone who “survived unimaginable pain.”
“Your stories matter. Your healing matters. And your courage is changing the world,” Lee said.
Stockton City Councilmember Mario Enríquez says ‘La Lucha Sigue’
District 4 Councilmember Mario Enríquez released a statement Wednesday quoting “deeply serious and painful allegations.”
“Our community is processing deeply serious and painful allegations regarding César Chávez – revelations that are impacting many across Stockton and beyond. I want to acknowledge the courage of Dolores Huerta and others who have come forward to share their experiences. These are difficult truths, and they must be taken seriously. Survivors deserve to be heard, supported, and treated with dignity. I stand with survivors and support their courage in coming forward,” Enríquez said. “This moment weighs heavily on many in our community – especially those with deep ties to the farmworker movement and the generations of families in Stockton connected to that history. It is important to recognize that the movement itself has always been larger than any one individual.”
Enríquez added he is committed to listening to the community, labor leaders, educators and survivors before making decisions about Stockton’s public institutions and civic spaces that represent the community.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers business and community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton leaders react to allegations against Cesar Chavez, support Dolores Huerta
Reporting by Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record / The Record
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