Cesario Estrada “Cesar” Chavez has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual abuse and grooming of girls involved in the farmworker movement. Promptly, murals have been covered, curricula changed, a state holiday reconsidered and celebrations canceled. Many institutions have been more than willing to act urgently.
When accountability appears only after Chavez’s death, when institutions face little risk in responding, “justice” can begin to feel more like a performance than genuine support for survivors.
Chavez was a labor unionist and co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association, now the United Farm Workers of America, alongside Dolores Huerta and Gilbert Padilla. He helped organize one of the most significant farm worker movements in U.S. history, improving working conditions and amplifying the voices of marginalized workers.
For many Latino communities, Chavez wasn’t just a name in history, he represented pride, struggle and identity for many Latino families. His story has been taught in classrooms and celebrated as proof that marginalized voices could rise and demand something better.
To see his story unravel is disappointing and feels personal. For those who learned about and grew up honoring Chavez, the loss of a role model feels like a loss of identity and a sense of belonging.
Still, it is important that we recognize that both grief and accountability can exist cohesively. The accusations made against Chavez did not erase the powerful impact he had on labor rights. It does challenge us to think about how we define legacy and who we choose to protect when those legacies are questioned.
But what is a legacy in the U.S. without contradiction? Despite his success and empowerment of marginalized voices, the allegations suggest that Chavez ultimately made many fear using their voice to speak out.
At long last, many people in the U.S. have decided to take the side of women survivors, powerful activists who went through hardships beside and because of Chavez. Although the actions taken against him are necessary, they reflect a long-overdue willingness to center the voices of women and children who have been silenced, ignored and pushed to the side for the sake of a man’s name and dignity.
The urgency we are seeing now is nowhere to be found when it comes to people in power.
One of the most prominent examples of this is with Donald Trump. In 2023, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse of columnist Elizabeth Jean Carroll, who was awarded $5 million in damages and later $83.3 million in 2024 for additional defamation. Being ordered to pay millions barely made a dent in Trump’s pocket and has not made him receive nearly as much backlash as he deserved.
There are many allegations against Trump, including accusations of harassment, violence, assault and pedophilia. Many of the filed suits were later withdrawn or dismissed.
There is no widespread effort to erase Trump’s name from public spaces nor any rapid institutional distancing. Perhaps we are afraid of the repercussions, perhaps we are under the influence of his fear-mongering. Still, there is no unified demand for accountability that reflects the speed of the response to Chavez that we have seen.
When it comes to a white man in power, there is hesitation, debate and justification. Holding people accountable who are in power, alive and actively tearing families apart is challenging and unfortunately, less common.
What is common is ignoring women’s voices.
Huerta waited 60 years to speak out about the horrors she experienced out of respect for protecting the movement. How many more women have to be silenced to protect the legacies that would not protect them in return?
This conversation cannot stop with Chavez, especially when others in power continue to avoid the same level of accountability.
April begins Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to speak openly about sexual violence in order to support survivors and increase awareness. As conversations around people like Chavez resurface, we are reminded of how important it is to support people who speak up and ensure they feel heard.
Resources at Chico State are always available to those who need support.
The WellCat Safe Place provides confidential support services for students, faculty, and staff impacted by sexual assault, dating or intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation. Services can be reached at 530-898-3030.
WellCat Counseling offers counseling services in person, via Zoom and group counseling in person. Their services can be reached at 530-898-6345
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s goal is to stop sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities. Their services can be reached at 800-656-4673
Maya DeHoyos can be reached at [email protected].
