Futures Without Violence stands with Dolores Huerta and all survivors
By Ana López Van Balen, VP Workplace & Economic Opportunity
March 19, 2026
Yesterday, Dolores Huerta, civil rights activist and labor leader, disclosed the horrible sexual abuse she experienced by Cesar Chavez, beginning 60 years ago.
It took courage to tell her story, a story too often shared by women who suffer sexual abuse by those with power over them. A story she was reluctant to disclose due to fear of not being believed, fear of retaliation, fear of having to choose between advocating for herself or those she was so diligently working to uplift.
In her statement, Huerta said about Chavez: “he was someone I admired: my boss and the leader of the movement to which I had already dedicated years of my life.”
As a Latina who grew up admiring Chavez – one of the few Latinos who rose to national prominence, a man whose name adorns school buildings and community centers across the nation – I know how painful and complicated it is to expose his abuse. It’s devastating to learn what kind of man he was behind closed doors. And painful at this time when Latinos and immigrants in the United States are experiencing so much harm.
On a personal level, I feel multiple levels of grief. Mostly, of course, I am angry at the abuse Chavez perpetrated against Dolores and so many others, and that she had to hold this trauma for decades out of fear of tarnishing the movement she helped build.
I am sad for Dolores and the many women across the country, in every field and at every income level, who feel they have no choice. We at Futures Without Violence stand with you all as you navigate the trauma of sexual abuse. We choose to walk with you as you decide how you want to proceed. And we want you to know you have options, protections, and opportunities to pursue well-being and accountability.
As the leader of our economic opportunity work at FUTURES, I want to emphasize: No one should have to choose between keeping their job and disclosing abuse by their employer or a co-worker.
To employers who hold power that can be, or has been misused, you have arrived at yet another moment when you can and must do what is right: Ensure the safety and well-being of your workers.
FUTURES has worked for nearly 40 years to end violence against women and children, promote opportunity, and advance healthy communities. A core part of this work has been to change attitudes and norms that kept domestic violence and sexual abuse in the shadows, and to engage men and boys to lead with us to make this change. This is a time for men to join with us, to confront abuse and harassment when they see it, and to promote safety and respect.
Dolores, you are courageous, as are the other women who chose to speak up now. Your stories will inspire other women to do the same, to come out of the shadows of trauma into the light to pursue truth, healing, and accountability.
If you or a loved one needs help, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). And for employers and employees who want to support safer workplaces, we have resources at workplacesrespond.org.
Let Dolores’ story not be wasted on any of us. We can make changes that will improve the well-being of all workers in our organizations, companies, and communities.
We stand ready to support those who do.
