A longtime volunteer with the United Farm Workers has filed a lawsuit alleging that Cesar Chavez raped her in the 1970s at the union’s headquarters in California. The suit, submitted anonymously under the name Jane Doe in Kern County Superior Court last week, accuses nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Chavez family and the United Farm Workers (U.F.W.) of negligence, sexual harassment, and violations of state civil rights laws.
The complaint details an incident in early 1973 at La Paz, the U.F.W. mountain compound near Bakersfield, where the woman was living with her family and others involved with the union. According to the lawsuit, after a birthday party in the communal kitchen during which Chavez made repeated sexual advances and offered her wine, the woman returned to her home and was assaulted by Chavez, who was a figure of authority within the community. She described feeling powerless and unable to resist.
In addition to the alleged rape, the woman recounted a subsequent episode years later at Chavez’s residence, in which she said she was manipulated into sexual contact. She has spoken with journalists over the past five years but requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation against her and her family.
The lawsuit claims that the Chavez-affiliated organizations failed to supervise Chavez in his roles as landlord and employer and did not take action to prevent or address his alleged abusive behavior. It also asserts that the groups were aware of similar accusations against Chavez but concealed evidence to avoid public exposure. The legal action seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
This is the latest accusation following revelations earlier this year alleging sexual abuse by Chavez. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the U.F.W. and a prominent Latina labor activist, publicly accused Chavez of sexual assault as an adult, describing incidents in the 1960s. Two other women, Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, have said Chavez molested them during adolescence between 1972 and 1977.
These allegations have prompted widespread reconsideration of Chavez’s legacy. California has renamed Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day, and various institutions have removed his name or imagery from schools, streets, and public spaces. In response, the U.F.W. has established a system to allow women to share their experiences and has partnered with organizations providing confidential counseling and a bilingual crisis hotline for survivors.
The organizations named in the lawsuit, the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the U.F.W. Foundation, both nonprofit entities originally linked to Chavez’s work, have responded cautiously. The Cesar Chavez Foundation stated it had recently learned of the lawsuit and was consulting legal counsel. The U.F.W. Foundation did not comment, and a U.F.W. spokesperson declined to respond.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation, founded in 1966 and now operating various social programs and media outlets, reported assets exceeding $260 million in its latest federal tax filings. Earlier this year, it expressed sorrow over the allegations, emphasizing belief in the survivors and commitment to addressing these painful revelations.
The woman’s legal representation asserted the importance of accountability. “Our client wasn’t the first and she wasn’t the last,” said V. James DeSimone, who, along with attorney Mike Arias, is assisting her pro bono. They emphasized that the suit aims to prevent future abuse and hold those responsible to account, rather than tarnishing Chavez’s broader legacy.