{"id":1189,"date":"2026-03-19T16:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T16:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/?p=1189"},"modified":"2026-03-19T17:07:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T17:07:10","slug":"carta-abierta-dolores-huerta-la-iconica-lider-del-movimiento-campesino-denuncia-abuso-sexual-por-parte-de-cesar-chavez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/california\/carta-abierta-dolores-huerta-la-iconica-lider-del-movimiento-campesino-denuncia-abuso-sexual-por-parte-de-cesar-chavez\/","title":{"rendered":"Carta abierta: Dolores Huerta, ic\u00f3nica l\u00edder del movimiento campesino denuncia abuso sexual por parte de C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez"},"content":{"rendered":"

La cofundadora de la Uni\u00f3n de Campesinos (UFW) rompi\u00f3 el silencio despu\u00e9s de 60 a\u00f1os.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Dolores Huerta Portrait 2024<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

18 de marzo de 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoy, la l\u00edder de los derechos civiles Dolores Huerta emiti\u00f3 la siguiente declaraci\u00f3n:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abTengo casi 96 a\u00f1os y, durante los \u00faltimos 60 a\u00f1os, he guardado un secreto porque cre\u00eda que revelar la verdad perjudicar\u00eda al movimiento de los trabajadores agr\u00edcolas, por el cual he dedicado toda mi vida a luchar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siempre he animado a las personas a alzar su voz. A ra\u00edz de la investigaci\u00f3n de varios a\u00f1os realizada por el New York Times<\/em> sobre la conducta sexual inapropiada de C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez, ya no puedo guardar silencio y debo compartir mis propias experiencias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siendo una madre joven en la d\u00e9cada de 1960, viv\u00ed dos encuentros sexuales distintos con C\u00e9sar. La primera vez fui manipulada y presionada para tener relaciones sexuales con \u00e9l; no sent\u00ed que pudiera negarme, ya que \u00e9l era alguien a quien yo admiraba, mi jefe y el l\u00edder del movimiento al que ya hab\u00eda dedicado a\u00f1os de mi vida. La segunda vez fui forzada, en contra de mi voluntad y en un entorno en el que me sent\u00ed atrapada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ya hab\u00eda sufrido abusos y violencia sexual con anterioridad, y me convenc\u00ed a m\u00ed misma de que estos incidentes eran algo que deb\u00eda sobrellevar en soledad y en secreto. Ambos encuentros sexuales con C\u00e9sar resultaron en embarazos. Decid\u00ed mantener mis embarazos en secreto y, tras el nacimiento de los ni\u00f1os, gestion\u00e9 que fueran criados por otras familias que pudieran brindarles una vida estable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con el paso de los a\u00f1os, he tenido la fortuna de forjar una relaci\u00f3n profunda con estos ni\u00f1os, quienes hoy mantienen un estrecho v\u00ednculo con mis otros hijos, sus hermanos. Pero, incluso entonces, nadie conoci\u00f3 la verdad completa sobre las circunstancias de su concepci\u00f3n hasta hace apenas unas semanas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cargu\u00e9 con este secreto durante tanto tiempo porque la construcci\u00f3n del movimiento y la garant\u00eda de los derechos de los trabajadores agr\u00edcolas constitu\u00edan la obra de mi vida. La creaci\u00f3n de un sindicato era el \u00fanico veh\u00edculo para lograr y asegurar esos derechos, y no iba a permitir que C\u00e9sar, ni nadie m\u00e1s, se interpusiera en ese camino. Canalic\u00e9 todas mis energ\u00edas hacia la defensa de los millones de trabajadores agr\u00edcolas y de otras personas que sufr\u00edan y merec\u00edan gozar de igualdad de derechos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nunca me he definido a m\u00ed misma como una v\u00edctima; sin embargo, ahora comprendo que soy una sobreviviente: sobreviviente de la violencia, del abuso sexual y de hombres dominantes que nos ve\u00edan \u2014tanto a m\u00ed como a otras mujeres\u2014 como meras propiedades o como objetos que deb\u00edan controlar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relato mi historia porque el New York Times<\/em> ha se\u00f1alado que yo no fui la\u2026\u00bb \u2026solo una; hubo otras. Las mujeres est\u00e1n dando un paso al frente, compartiendo que fueron abusadas y agredidas sexualmente por C\u00e9sar cuando eran ni\u00f1as y adolescentes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saber que lastim\u00f3 a ni\u00f1as peque\u00f1as me revuelve el est\u00f3mago. Me duele el coraz\u00f3n por todas aquellas que sufrieron solas y en silencio durante a\u00f1os. No existen palabras lo suficientemente contundentes para condenar esas acciones deplorables que \u00e9l cometi\u00f3. Las acciones de C\u00e9sar no reflejan los valores de nuestra comunidad ni los de nuestro movimiento.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

El movimiento de los trabajadores agr\u00edcolas siempre ha sido m\u00e1s grande y mucho m\u00e1s importante que cualquier individuo en particular. Las acciones de C\u00e9sar no restan valor a las mejoras permanentes logradas para los trabajadores agr\u00edcolas con la ayuda de miles de personas. Debemos seguir involucr\u00e1ndonos con nuestra comunidad y brind\u00e1ndole apoyo, pues ahora m\u00e1s que nunca necesita defensa y activismo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuar\u00e9 cumpliendo mis compromisos con los trabajadores, as\u00ed como mi compromiso con los derechos de las mujeres, para asegurar que tengamos voz y que nuestras comunidades sean tratadas con dignidad y reciban la equidad que se les ha negado durante tanto tiempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He guardado este secreto por suficiente tiempo. Mi silencio termina aqu\u00ed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Si usted es sobreviviente o se ha visto afectada por alg\u00fan tipo de violencia sexual, por favor visite el sitio web de la Fundaci\u00f3n Dolores Huerta, donde encontrar\u00e1 una lista de recursos de apoyo. https:\/\/doloreshuerta.org\/sexual_assault_resources\/<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open Letter: Dolores Huerta, Iconic Leader of the Farmworkers’ Movement, Alleges Sexual Abuse by C\u00e9sar Ch\u00e1vez <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 18, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta issued the following statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New York Times\u2019 multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by Cesar Chavez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had experienced abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. Both sexual encounters with Cesar led to pregnancies. I chose to keep my pregnancies secret and, after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, who are now close to my other children, their siblings. But even then, no one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life\u2019s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn\u2019t going to let Cesar or anyone else get in the way. I channeled everything I had into advocating on behalf of millions of farmworkers and others who were suffering and deserved equal rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor \u2014 of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am telling my story because the New York Times has indicated that I was not the only one \u2014 there were others. Women are coming forward, sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted by Cesar when they were girls and teenagers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. Cesar\u2019s actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will continue my commitments to workers, as well as my commitment to women\u2019s rights, to make sure we have a voice and that our communities are treated with dignity and given the equity that they have so long been denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are a survivor or if you have been impacted by any type of sexual violence, please visit the Dolores Huerta Foundation website, where you will find a list of resources for support. https:\/\/doloreshuerta.org\/sexual_assault_resources\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

La cofundadora de la Uni\u00f3n de Campesinos (UFW) rompi\u00f3 el silencio despu\u00e9s de 60 a\u00f1os. 18 de marzo de 2026 Hoy, la l\u00edder de los derechos civiles Dolores Huerta emiti\u00f3… <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,51,49,52],"tags":[162,159,161,160],"class_list":["post-1189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california","category-estados-unidos","category-latinos","category-los-angeles","tag-abuso-sexual","tag-cesar-chavez","tag-dolores-huerta","tag-ufw"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1189"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1200,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1189\/revisions\/1200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinosentinel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}