Dolores Huerta's Legacy Splits at 96 After Chavez Rape Revelation

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 28

California leaders honored Dolores Huerta after her death at 96, but tributes were shadowed by the rape allegation she disclosed against Cesar Chavez in her final months.
That revelation came in a New York Times investigation that also found Chavez had groomed and sexually abused girls, prompting governments to strip his name from a holiday, buildings and other honors.
Huerta's remembrance is also complicated by June accusations from former union associates who said she dismissed their sexual assault and harassment complaints inside the United Farm Workers.
Huerta said she did not know Chavez had abused underage girls and had been fighting a misogynistic culture in the union, leaving historians to weigh her civil-rights achievements against questions about how the movement handled abuse.