For decades, the name Caesar Chavez has stood for activism and leadership.

I'm in New York today as a part of a nationwide tour on a campaign to ask consumers to refrain from buying California table grapes until the farm workers... But perceptions of who California table grates until the farm workers...

But perceptions of who Caesar Chavez was changed dramatically this week when a New York Times investigation found that the widely lionized civil rights leader had sexually abused girls and women.

The Times investigation, based on interviews with several women, as well as Chavez's

close allies and relatives, got a swift reaction. Here in California, some events that were meant

to celebrate Caesar Chavez Day have been canceled. That's a state holiday here, commemorating

Chavez's birthday. And cities across the state are considering renaming schools and

streets that bear his name. Here's California governor Gavin Newsom. We're just going to have to

reflect on all of that and reflect on a farm workers movement and a labor movement that was much

bigger than one man, and celebrate that.

So much of the story about that movement centers on a key figure, Dolores Werta.

Yes, we can see Sep WERA.

Yes, we can see Cep WERDA.

WERDA popularized that chant, as well as co-founded alongside Chavez, what would become the

United Farm Workers of America. That's a labor union for farm workers. Werta told the New York

Times that she, too, was abused by Chavez when their organizing efforts were just beginning.

Consider this. Dolores Werta built a lasting movement with Caesar Chavez.

And after waiting decades, she has finally decided to share the story of how Chavez abused her.

From NPR, I'm Elsa Chang.

Dolores Werta told the New York Times that she felt pressured to have sex with

Caesar-Chavez while on a work trip in 1960.

Then, six years later, after they had founded the union for farm workers, she says Chavez raped her.

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