On March 18, 2026, Dolores Huerta courageously broke a silence she had carried for six decades, sharing the painful truth of the abuse she endured at the hands of Cesar Chavez. In a heartfelt press release, she spoke with grace and strength, transforming her story of grief into a call for healing, awareness, and justice.
Huerta, nearly 96 years old, stated:
“I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here. 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. The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me.
My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years… The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. Cesar’s 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.”
March 18 also holds deep historical significance in the farmworker and labor rights movement. It was on this day in 1962 that Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW), alongside Chavez. This organization became the cornerstone of farmworker advocacy in the United States, fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity for agricultural laborers.
By speaking out on this date, Huerta not only shares her personal truth but also reaffirms her lifelong dedication to justice and the rights of the workers she has always championed.
About the Foundation
The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that Huerta founded in 2002 and continues to serve as president. It was created using the $100,000 Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship she received, and was envisioned as a continuation of the civil rights and farmworker organizing work she began decades earlier.
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:
doloreshuerta.org/sexual_assault_resources/
Read the full statement here.
