Information about allegations became public yesterday after Insight’s previous article detailed his accomplishments. As Cesar Chavez Day approaches, new claims of sexual misconduct, led by United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, have brought to light a past of abuse and coercion held silent for 60 years.

In her statement on Medium, an open-access publishing platform, Huerta stated that the recently published New York Times article served as a catalyst for her to share her story. Huerta alleged that she was intimidated by Chavez and sexually coerced twice.

“‘As a young mother in the 1960s, I experienced two separate sexual encounters with Cesar. The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, and I didn’t feel I could say no because he was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader of the movement I had already devoted years of my life to. The second time I was forced, against my will, and in an environment where I felt trapped,’” Huerta stated on Medium.

Her past experiences made her reluctant to speak out, and given that the incident resulted in children, Huerta decided who would raise these children to both maintain the secret and ensure their “stable lives” in the future. She maintained a close contact with her children, and they are equally connected with her other children.

Her reason for maintaining silence on the matter stems from her concern for the greater movement that they had all worked hard for.

“‘I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life’s work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasn’t going to let Cesar or anyone else get in the way. I channeled everything I had into advocating on behalf of millions of farmworkers and others who were suffering and deserved equal rights,’” Huerta stated on Medium.

She never felt victimized before, but in the revelation of the survivors reported in the NYT’s investigation, she felt motivated to come forward to defend the young girls Chavez had abused in his life.

“‘The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. Cesar’s actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement,’” Huerta stated on Medium.

The UFW Foundation released a statement on Tuesday regarding the issue, canceling all celebrations in Cesar Chavez’s honor.

“‘As a women-led organization that exists to empower communities, the allegations about abusive behavior by Cesar Chavez go against everything that we stand for… Recognizing how serious the allegations are, the UFW Foundation has cancelled all Cesar Chavez Day activities this month,’” UFW Foundation stated.

The Office on Violence Against Women within the U.S. Department of Justice has a page of resources for victims and survivors. It lists five national hotlines and regional resources for states and territories.