US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, who was known for advocating for the rights of farm workers, has been accused of sexual abuse.
Dolores Huerta said in the 1960s, Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union (UFW) with her, once manipulated and pressured her into having sex, and on another occasion forced her.
It comes after the New York Times published an investigation on Wednesday that detailed allegations from Huerta and two other women, who said Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls who were involved in the labour movement during the 1960s and 1970s.
In a statement, his family said they are devastated by the reports and praised the women's courage to come forward.
Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, rallied California's farmworkers from the 1950s to push for improvements in working conditions and led national boycotts and marches.
In her statement, Huerta, now 95, said two encounters with Chavez resulted in pregnancies that she chose to keep secret, arranging for the children to be raised by other families.
I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life's work, she said.
Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, told the New York Times that Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were girls, from around 1972 to 1977, when he was in his 40s.
Multiple events to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day, a commemorative holiday that takes place on 31 March, have been cancelled or renamed.
In a statement, the UFW said it was cancelling its participation in the celebrations.
The union added that it had not received any direct reports and do not have any firsthand knowledge of the allegations.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the farm workers movement and labour movement are much bigger than one man and expressed support for the courageous women, such as Huerta.
At a separate event, he mentioned openness to renaming Cesar Chavez Day in California.
Republican assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo of California has also filed legislation to change the holiday's name to Farmworker Day.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass highlighted that the painful reality of what women like Dolores, Ana, and Debra endured continues to be an issue today, calling for sustained actions to dismantle harmful structures.
The allegations have ignited widespread condemnation, including from the civil rights organization, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
No individual, regardless of stature or legacy, is above accountability when it comes to protecting and upholding the dignity of others, LULAC stated.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation has acknowledged the disturbing allegations regarding its founder's inappropriate sexual behavior with women and minors and expressed shock and sadness, committing to work with Farmworker Movement leaders to respond to the situation and support those impacted.
