A Shocking Announcement
It doesn’t happen often that a major union distances itself from its own founder. But that’s exactly what happened this week when the United Farm Workers of America dropped a bombshell statement.
The UFW said it received “deeply troubling allegations” that Cesar Chavez, who co-founded the union before his death in 1993, may have been involved in the abuse of “very young women or girls.”
This wasn’t just a rumor. The New York Times published an investigation relying on interviews with more than 60 people, including former top aides, relatives, and former union members, along with union records, confidential emails, photographs, and recordings of UFW board meetings.
Among the accusers is Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the UFW alongside Chavez. She said in a statement that she was “manipulated and pressured” into a sexual encounter with him, and that a second encounter was forced “against my will.”
The union said it has no “firsthand knowledge” of the claims. But it announced it will no longer participate in Cesar Chavez Day, observed each year on March 31.
Who Was Cesar Chavez?
Chavez was born in Arizona in the 1920s. He became a prominent figure in the Latino community by organizing migrant farm workers in California.
He fought for better pay, safer housing, and improved working conditions. Over time, he became something of a cultural icon, with his birthday recognized as an official holiday in California, Utah, and several other states.
Nevada has its own version of the holiday. In 2009, the state legislature passed a law making March 31 Cesar Chavez Day. It doesn’t give anyone a day off work. Instead, the governor issues a proclamation each year recognizing Chavez’s contributions to Nevada and the country.
Masto Responds
Not everyone is being equally careful with their words.
Nevada U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto issued a statement calling the allegations “horrifying.” She went further, referring to Chavez’s “inexcusable, predatory actions” and saying her heart is with “the women and children hurt by his” conduct.
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) March 18, 2026
Notice the language. Not alleged conduct. Not reported conduct. Just “his actions.”
Cortez Masto added that she will:
“continue to stand firmly with the survivors and push for the truth, accountability, and justice that they deserve.”
What About the Governor?
Officials from Governor Joe Lombardo’s office told reporters they are aware of the allegations. Because state law mandates that the governor proclaim March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day, his team is reviewing their options.
That’s a measured and appropriate response. The governor is bound by statute, but that doesn’t mean the situation is without options.
In addition, George Harris, Republican candidate for Nevada State Senate District 8, announced that if elected in November he would sponsor, co-sponsor, or otherwise support a bill to repeal Cesar Chavez Day.
It’s worth noting that in 2025, Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have commemorated Dolores Huerta, another co-founder of the UFW and a former Las Vegas resident. His reasoning was straightforward: there was no need to keep adding days into state law.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is running for governor and has deep ties to Nevada’s labor movement, has said nothing publicly.
As of this writing, no statement has appeared on his campaign website, his social media accounts, or in any Nevada news coverage.
That silence is its own kind of statement. Ford has built his political career in part on championing workers and their unions. The organization that employed Chavez is now distancing itself from him. Ford’s silence raises a fair question: Is he waiting to see which way the wind blows before he speaks?
Nevada Reacts
The fallout has already reached Northern Nevada. The Central Labor Council there announced it’s renaming its annual Cesar Chavez Celebration. It will now be called the Northern Nevada Member Assistance Program Solidarity Celebration Dinner. Organizers say the change is meant to stand in solidarity with the UFW’s response to the allegations.
The event is still going forward this Friday, March 21.
Down in Las Vegas, it’s less clear. Organizers familiar with the annual Cesar Chavez Day Festival at Gary Reese Freedom Park said they weren’t sure whether programming had been planned for this year.
Clark County also has a park named after Chavez. Las Vegas officials helped unveil a sculpture of him less than two years ago.
Why This Matters
This story is about more than one man’s legacy. It raises a real question about how quickly politicians rush to judgment when allegations surface against someone they once celebrated.
The same politicians who put Chavez on a pedestal are now racing to condemn him in the strongest possible terms. Government shouldn’t be in the business of picking cultural heroes and locking them into law in the first place. When it does, taxpayers end up holding the bag when the story gets complicated.
What Comes Next
Nevada lawmakers may face pressure to revisit the 2009 statute. Lombardo’s office is reviewing its options on the mandatory proclamation.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
