Cesar Chavez’s Swift Cancelation Is Too Easy

Only a week ago, the late Cesar Chavez was an American hero. The civil rights leader, known for his hunger strikes and nonviolent activism, was beloved for creating an influential labor movement that improved the working conditions for farmworkers and paved the way for greater Latino political power.

But now, even politicians who credit their careers to Chavez would rather forget he existed. A stunning new investigation by the New York Times alleges that Chavez, while at the height of his fame in the 1970s, sexually abused at least two young girls and raped fellow activist Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded the United Farm Workers union.