Georgia Latino advocacy groups respond to Chávez abuse allegations
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César Chávez speaks at the University of San Francisco in October 1976. Photo: Courtesy of Janet Fries/Getty Images
New allegations that United Farm Workers co-founder and civil rights activist César Chávez sexually abused women and girls are reverberating in Latino communities in Georgia and across the country.
Why it matters: Chávez, one of the nation's most celebrated Latino union activists, was a central figure in the fight for farmworker rights — a legacy that's now in question after accusations from several minors and women, including civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, Axios' Nadia Lopez reports.
The latest: Galeo, which provides resources and advocates for Georgia's Latino and Hispanic residents, said it will not hold its annual Leyendas Essay Contest this year and will remove references to Chávez in future contests.
- Leyendas, which means "legends" in Spanish, draws attention to the plight of farmworkers and celebrates their accomplishments.
- In recent years, it has been expanded to "include other farmworker leaders and unsung heroes from the state of Georgia," Galeo said.
What they're saying: Galeo said in a statement it was "deeply saddened and disillusioned" by the Chávez allegations.
- "This news weighs heavily on our hearts, as many in our community had looked up to him as a leader and role model," the group said, adding it stands with survivors and condemns sexual violence.
Zoom in: Gilda "Gigi" Pedraza, executive director of the Latino Community Fund of Georgia, said in a post on LinkedIn that people in the movement either chose or were pressured to "protect an image and a body of work above the safety of children and the very people they claimed to serve."
- Her organization, she said, would "never sacrifice the safety of a vulnerable person to protect a leader, a brand, or a strategic position."
- "When we protect a name instead of a person, we are no longer doing justice work," she said. "We are doing reputation management. Our community deserves better."
Catch up quick: Huerta wrote in a blog post Wednesday that she was sexually assaulted by Chávez, who she worked alongside for decades and helped establish the UFW with fellow activist Gilbert Padilla, Axios' Josephine Walker reports.
Zoom out: Event organizers around the country are scrambling to respond since Huerta's blog post and the New York Times' bombshell article detailing the allegations against Chavez were published Wednesday.
- Cities and organizations nationwide, including the United Farm Workers, are pulling out of parades and renaming celebrations and rallies honoring the late UFW co-founder.
- Parades have been canceled in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, and officials and groups in San Diego have either dropped Chávez's name from events or canceled them.
The bottom line: "No movement is worth more than the people it claims to serve," Pedraza wrote. "No one, no matter how revered, stands above the dignity of another human."