On the Allegations Against Cesar Chavez

Like many of our friends and allies, we at SEACA were preparing to observe what was formerly Cesar Chavez Day – a day of service and celebration of the farmworker movement which has been a source of inspiration and a blueprint for social justice movements. Instead, we were horrified to learn about the reports of sexual abuse and violence committed by Cesar Chavez, and the toxic culture of silence and misogyny that allowed for these allegations to remain a secret for over 60 years. 

As an organization dedicated to empowering youth and organizing low-income immigrants and refugees, learning that his victims were members of his own community, including girls as young as 8, was devastating.  His actions are fundamentally incompatible with the values of dignity, respect, and equality that we teach and strive to uphold, and a deep betrayal of the individual victims and the movement as a whole. 

No individual, regardless of their historical significance or societal contributions, is above accountability.  As a society, we are not good at accountability, especially when the perpetrator is someone we liked or respected. The responses of renaming the day, or covering statues, or replacing one figurehead with another all ring hollow.  These are not the deep and thoughtful answers we seek.  

We need thoughtful conversations about how to create a culture of accountability, especially within the social justice movement – one where victims are not scared into silence but treated with care and consideration and where accountability is seen as a shared responsibility rather than the impulsive response of “cancel culture.”  

At SEACA we strive to build community power, and develop youth leaders who advocate for themselves, their families, communities, and vulnerable individuals.  We create safe spaces for difficult and self-reflective conversations.  We are driven by our values, and our organizational Code of Conduct, including:

1. To be conscious of the unique power that adults hold due to the trust placed in them by minors and vulnerable persons.
2. To assume the full burden of responsibility for setting and maintaining clear and appropriate physical and emotional boundaries with minors or vulnerable persons.
3. To be proactive in identifying minors and/or vulnerable persons who may be at risk of unhealthy relationships and to assist them in developing their sense of self-worth and avoiding emotional manipulation.

To us this is not a one-time conversation canceling an individual who’s proved himself to be unworthy.  For SEACA self-reflection, accountability, responsibility to our youth and our community permeate our work every day. Together with our youth and community we build safe, supportive, challenging movement spaces.  Come join us in the work.

*Featured Image Attribution: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons