Accusing the long-dead

[unicorn]

Dolores Huerta, a 96 year-old labor activist who worked with the more famous labor activist César Chavez, has waited until 33 years after his death to accuse the decedent of raping her 60 years ago. Supposedly, one of the incidents (1966) was forcible rape in the back of Chavez's car. She also described an earlier encounter in August 1960 in which "she felt pressured to have sex with him in a hotel room during a work trip in San Juan Capistrano". Apparently both of these trysts resulted in childbirth, and both were adopted and not made aware of the alleged circumstances of their conception until now. 

Almost overnight, municipalities and other organizations have removed artwork made to commemorate Chavez. No one has waited to even test the two to find out whether the accusation of unwanted sexual activity is even plausible. Of course, we'll never hear Chavez's version. I have to wonder why Huerta is bringing this up now? Does she want César Chavez Day to be renamed Dolores Huerta Day? (I can see that happening) I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how quickly people can rush to judgment--a kind of mob mentality.

https://apnews.com/article/latino-leaders-speak-out-about-chavez-allegations-f1b24d3c6bdf71b326b63d51f80ea957

Memorial in Fresno being covered up:

Statue in San Fernando being removed. It seems it was important to cover it up before being removed:

Mural being covered in Santa Ana:

Statue being removed in Denver:

All of these accusations made decades after a person's death feel rather unseemly to me. I also find the rush to judgment disturbing. 

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, unicorn said:

Dolores Huerta, a 96 year-old labor activist who worked with the more famous labor activist César Chavez, has waited until 33 years after his death to accuse the decedent of raping her 60 years ago. Supposedly, one of the incidents (1966) was forcible rape in the back of Chavez's car. She also described an earlier encounter in August 1960 in which "she felt pressured to have sex with him in a hotel room during a work trip in San Juan Capistrano". Apparently both of these trysts resulted in childbirth, and both were adopted and not made aware of the alleged circumstances of their conception until now. 

Almost overnight, municipalities and other organizations have removed artwork made to commemorate Chavez. No one has waited to even test the two to find out whether the accusation of unwanted sexual activity is even plausible. Of course, we'll never hear Chavez's version. I have to wonder why Huerta is bringing this up now? Does she want César Chavez Day to be renamed Dolores Huerta Day? (I can see that happening) I guess I shouldn't be surprised at how quickly people can rush to judgment--a kind of mob mentality.

https://apnews.com/article/latino-leaders-speak-out-about-chavez-allegations-f1b24d3c6bdf71b326b63d51f80ea957

Memorial in Fresno being covered up:

Statue in San Fernando being removed. It seems it was important to cover it up before being removed:

Mural being covered in Santa Ana:

Statue being removed in Denver:

All of these accusations made decades after a person's death feel rather unseemly to me. I also find the rush to judgment disturbing. 

There used to be a principle of innocent  until proved guilty!

[Mavica]

I have a personal connection to the UFW and knew Chavez way back when. I'm conflicted about these reports and haven't yet decided what to believe, and not.

[unicorn]

8 minutes ago, Mavica said:

I have a personal connection to the UFW and knew Chavez way back when. I'm conflicted about these reports and haven't yet decided what to believe, and not.

At this point, obviously there's no way to really know. Even if it happened, what's the point of bringing it up now, decades after he died? It's one thing to bring these matters up promptly, so the perpetrator can be apprehended and prevented from repeating noxious behavior. What can the accusations accomplish at this point--other than tarnish his reputation? 

[Pete1111]

Any file created when J Edgar Hoover ran the FBI might lack a degree of credibility.

I also question why wait 60 years to accuse?  It's peculiar.

Perhaps the New York Times should double their focus on our modern offenders, e.g. diaper Don.

[jimmie50]

1 hour ago, Pete1111 said:

I also question why wait 60 years to accuse?  It's peculiar.

Perhaps the New York Times should double their focus on our modern offenders, e.g. diaper Don.

I am like you.  I don't understand the importance or significance of bringing this up now.  We have far more pressing issues that deserve immediate attention...such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, constitutional rights...all of which are under attack by the current regime.  Is the NY Times that desperate for new articles?!?   

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, unicorn said:

 

All of these accusations made decades after a person's death feel rather unseemly to me. I also find the rush to judgment disturbing. 

 

you are not alone

[Mavica]

3 hours ago, unicorn said:

Even if it happened, what's the point of bringing it up now, decades after he died? 

Victims want acknowledgement of what they were subjected to, whether or not the alleged perpetrator is alive.  They want to tell their story.  I can't relate completely because I haven't been sexually victimized. 

[Patanawet]

6 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

There used to be a principle of innocent  until proved guilty!

Innocent until proved dead.

[Lucky]

If the allegations are true, Huerta is responsible  for many women becoming victims because she did not speak out earlier.

[caeron]

 

This thread is why victims don't come forward. They don't get believed, they get accused of having motives and lying, and they get blamed for their own victimization. Apparently, they're also responsible for abusing other women too.

Powerful men get away with shit while victims get re-victimized.

I believe them. If evidence comes to light that disproves their claim, then I will change my mind. But, you get nothing but grief for coming forward. You don't do that without a strong reason to.

 

[unicorn]

On 3/21/2026 at 4:19 PM, caeron said:

 

This thread is why victims don't come forward. They don't get believed, they get accused of having motives and lying, and they get blamed for their own victimization. Apparently, they're also responsible for abusing other women too.

Powerful men get away with shit while victims get re-victimized.

I believe them. If evidence comes to light that disproves their claim, then I will change my mind. But, you get nothing but grief for coming forward. You don't do that without a strong reason to.

Obviously, neither you nor I has enough (nor will we ever have enough) information to believe or disbelieve the accuser. It's certainly problematic when one has the mindset that the accused has to "disprove" allegations in order to be considered possibly innocent, especially among those whose minds is already set. That's the definition of mob mentality (and many have been lynched because of it). How would you like it if you were accused of a crime, and told no one would believe you unless you could "disprove" the allegations? I guess that still happens in some countries--one would hope not advanced societies. 

Accusers get plenty of sympathy, not grief, especially from those close to them. It also wouldn't surprise me if Cesar Chavez day were renamed Dolores Huerta Day. At this point, one is deluding oneself if one thinks one knows the truth. It's really unknowable at this time. One can only wonder: why bring up these accusations now? If it were true that bringing up the accusations results only in "grief," there would be no motive. 

No one is accusing her of lying. There's no way to tell either way. There have certainly been examples of false accusations, including the blatant lies discovered in the Duke Lacrosse players' case, which ruined innocent men's lives. While not as clear-cut, the Kobe Bryant case was probably another such case. I can only wonder why Huerta is bringing this up over six decades later, and over three decades after Chavez's death. I find the overnight rush to take down his statues and murals troubling.

[caeron]

 

Perhaps you might wish to read the NY times pieces that investigated and broke the story. I find their vetting valid, and I believe the victims.