The foundation helped organize the annual Cesar Chavez March in San Antonio; the event’s future is now in question.
SAN ANTONIO — Hours after a New York Times investigation uncovered allegations that the civil rights icon Cesar Chavez abused multiple young girls – sending shockwaves through a country that bears his name on signs for streets, parks and schools – leaders at the San Antonio organization that sought to preserve his legacy as an activist decided to dissolve the group.
The Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation (CECLEF) said in a statement that the decision “reflects our obligation to uphold the values that have guided our work and to ensure we do not contribute to further harming or diminishing the experiences of those who have come forward.”
The nonprofit, founded in 2004, was a principle sponsor of the annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice, which historically has drawn thousands to west San Antonio. It also organized annual food drives, scholarship programs and other community events.
“We are profoundly grateful to our volunteers, partners, and supporters, and we take solace in knowing that the spirit of La Causa—service, unity, and care for one another—belongs to the community and that it will will endure,” CECLEF said in its statement.
The New York Times investigation found Chavez allegedly abused girls and women on dozens of occasions while he was leading a national movement for farm workers’ rights. Dolores Huerta, whom Chavez cofounded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union with, said she was raped by Chavez and secretly carried his children before arranging for them to be raised by other families.
There were signs the report was coming in recent weeks. Marches organized in honor of Chavez were abruptly canceled in San Antonio and elsewhere, with UFW leaders on Tuesday citing “troubling” allegations.
After the report was published Thursday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas would no longer observe Cesar Chavez Day. He said he planned to work with state lawmakers to “remove Cesar Chavez Day from state law altogether.”
In San Antonio, City Councilwoman Teri Castillo – whose District 5 includes a stretch of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard – asked the city manager to organize a series of spring community meetings to begin gathering input on what it should be renamed to.
“When I read it, I was disheartened and disgusted,” Castillo told KENS 5. “What came to mind is: How do we engage the community to hear if this is something they would like to initiate a conversation about?”
On Thursday evening, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones called for anyone who was complicit in the alleged abuse to face consequences. She also sought to ensure the larger labor movement wasn’t forgotten in the aftermath of the claims.
“I look forward to developing a path forward for our city that recognizes the courage and hard work of labor leaders, the importance of the movement, and our irrefutable and collective responsibility to call out criminal activities and exploitation that too often preys on the most vulnerable,” Jones said.
Henry Rodriguez serves as the executive director of a San Antonio-based chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). The 81-year-old expressed sympathy for Huerta, someone he’s met several times over the decades.
“I have to give her a lot of credit for maintaining her silence because of the movement and that is a horrible thing to go through,” Rodriguez said. “My heart goes out to her.”
Rodriguez has long been involved in efforts to honor Chavez, including helping rename Durango Street to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard in 2011. In his home, Rodriguez has a photograph of himself standing with Chavez during the 1984 Democratic National Convention.
While Rodriguez supports exploring the possibility of changing the name again, he stressed the importance of not forgetting the positive contributions from both Chavez and Huerta.
“A lot of our people worked the fields in terrible conditions and we have to give that movement a lot of credit for what they did, both Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta,” Rodriguez said. “But of course it’s so disappointing to know that we had a hero that we elevated so high and it’s a severe blow.”