A woman has filed a new lawsuit accusing disgraced California labor icon Cesar Chavez of raping her in a union compound decades ago, months after a bombshell report revealed allegations of horrific sex crimes against women.
The unidentified 86-year-old woman accused nonprofit groups affiliated with the Chavez family and the United Farm Workers union of negligence, sexual harassment and violations of state civil rights laws.
The woman claimed Chavez raped her in 1973 at the union’s compound in Keene near Bakersfield and that leadership covered up his crime.
The accuser, who now lives in San Bernardino County, said she lived with her family at Chavez’s headquarters Nuestra Senora Reina de La Paz, roughly translated to “Our Lady Queen of Peace.”
Chavez is accused of giving alcohol and dancing with the alleged victim during a celebration at the compound. The plaintiff said she felt uncomfortable and went to the restroom to hide, but after returning home, Chavez allegedly “summoned Plaintiff to a room within her house.”
“Inside the room, Chavez pulled Plaintiff onto the bed and raped her,” the suit says.
Around three to four years later, Chavez allegedly called her to his house and “forced Plaintiff’s head down to his crotch,” the complaint continues.
The suit claims that employees and people within the United Farm Workers knew about the abuse, but made sure that Chavez’s activities were always shielded from public view.
The woman said she has endured long-term consequences, including depression, alcoholism, weight gain and “diminished sexual relations” with her spouse. She has demanded in the suit present and future damages, including for lost earnings and appropriate statutory damages.
The lawsuit is just the latest in a string of damning charges against Chavez.
He is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl, while another woman, Debra Rojas, said she was first assaulted by Chavez at 12 years old and later raped by him at 15.
Even longtime activist Dolores Huerta — Chavez’s closest ally — also alleged he sexually assaulted her, a claim she had never previously made public.
The defendants declined to comment to the New York Times about the most recent lawsuit. The United Farm Workers said back in March that “the allegations about abusive behavior by Cesar Chavez go against everything that we stand for.”
In response to the revelations, multiple streets, schools and other institutions in California named after him have been renamed or may be renamed. State lawmakers also moved to get rid of Cesar Chavez Day.
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