WTF with all the pedophilia???

superrific

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Epstein, fine, scumbag. But Cesar Chavez?


Ana Murguia remembers the day the man she had regarded as a hero called her house and summoned her to see him. She walked along a dirt trail, entered the rundown building, passed his secretary and stepped into his office.

He locked the door, as he always did when he called her, and told her how lonely he had been. He brought her onto the yoga mat that he often used in his office for meditation, kissed her and pulled her pants down. “Don’t tell anyone,” he told her afterward. “They’d get jealous.”

The man, Cesar Chavez, one of the most revered figures in the Latino civil rights movement, was 45. She was 13. Ms. Murguia said she was summoned for sexual encounters with him dozens of times over the next four years.

Ms. Murguia and another woman, Debra Rojas, say that Mr. Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were girls, from around 1972 to 1977. He was in his 40s and had become a powerful, charismatic figure who captured global attention as a champion of farmworker rights.

The two women have not shared their stories publicly before, and an investigation by The New York Times has uncovered extensive evidence to support their accusations and those raised by several other women against Mr. Chavez, the United Farm Workers co-founder who died in 1993 at the age of 66.

The questions raised by The Times about Mr. Chavez, one of the most consequential figures in Mexican American history, set off immediate reverberations and alarmed and disturbed his allies. Even before this article was published, upon learning of the reporters’ inquiries, the U.F.W. canceled its annual celebrations honoring Mr. Chavez, a response to what the union he once led called “profoundly shocking” accusations.


Is this just how the world is and always has been?
 
Sexual assault is often about opportunity and power, not who the perpetrator is most attracted to.

Young teens are often voiceless and powerless and don't have the life experience to speak up to others, so they are often those targeted because of availability and the likelihood that they won't speak up/stand up for themselves.
 
Not trying to defend or justify pedophilia. Pedophilia is indefensible. But slavery is similarly indefensible. IDK, but my guess is that slavery and pedophilia have existed for roughly the same amount of time in human history. Both slavery and pedophilia share the common characteristic of stronger people abusing weaker people, because they can. The only difference I see between the moral wrong of pedophilia and the moral wrong of slavery is that pedophiles believe their victims are "asking for it," whereas slavers believe their victims "deserve it." Both these beliefs are absolutely evil.
 
March 18, 2026
Today, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta issued the following statement:
“I am nearly 96 years old, and for the last 60 years have kept a secret because I believed that exposing the truth would hurt the farmworker movement I have spent my entire life fighting for.
I have encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New York Times’ multi-year investigation into sexual misconduct by Cesar Chavez, I can no longer stay silent and must share my own experiences.
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.
I had experienced abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. Both sexual encounters with Cesar led to pregnancies. I chose to keep my pregnancies secret and, after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, who are now close to my other children, their siblings. But even then, no one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago.
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.
I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor — of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control.
I am telling my story because the New York Times has indicated that I was not the only one — there were others. Women are coming forward, sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted by Cesar when they were girls and teenagers.
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.
The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. Cesar’s actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever.
I will continue my commitments to workers, as well as my commitment to women’s rights, to make sure we have a voice and that our communities are treated with dignity and given the equity that they have so long been denied.
I have kept this secret long enough. My silence ends here."
If you are a survivor or if you have been impacted by any type of sexual violence, please visit the Dolores Huerta Foundation website, where you will find a list of resources for support.
https://doloreshuerta.org/sexual_assault_resources/

Read the full statement and Spanish-language version here: https://medium.com/p/e74c20430555?postPublishedType=initial

MEDIA CONTACT

Fenton Chief of Issue Advocacy & Crisis Management Lead Erik Olvera | eolvera@fenton.com | 415-994-3242
Lara Berthold | larabergthold@gmail.com
 
Sexual assault is often about opportunity and power, not who the perpetrator is most attracted to.

Young teens are often voiceless and powerless and don't have the life experience to speak up to others, so they are often those targeted because of availability and the likelihood that they won't speak up/stand up for themselves.
Maybe framing it as "pedophilia" per se isn't the best characterization. I chose it because with Epstein, pedophilia is on everyone's mind. But regardless of the label, this is earth-shattering to me.

I mean, it just shows that people can be shitty in private life even though in public life they can be empathetic, operate with a keen sense of justice, be concerned about others, etc. Bill Clinton comes to mind. MLK had so many affairs -- I don't think any of them involved force nor underage girls -- but he didn't exactly treat his wife with respect.
 
None of it surprises me. Not because of who it is, but just that I think sexual predation, abuse, pedophilia, etc. are way more prevalent in society than anyone really wants to know or admit. I know of three cases among my own relatives. I also know that at least five of my female friends (over the years) were abused at a young age. I think someone said it above…power and opportunity.
 
Not trying to defend or justify pedophilia. Pedophilia is indefensible. But slavery is similarly indefensible. IDK, but my guess is that slavery and pedophilia have existed for roughly the same amount of time in human history. Both slavery and pedophilia share the common characteristic of stronger people abusing weaker people, because they can. The only difference I see between the moral wrong of pedophilia and the moral wrong of slavery is that pedophiles believe their victims are "asking for it," whereas slavers believe their victims "deserve it." Both these beliefs are absolutely evil.
Curious why you went here.
 
None of it surprises me. Not because of who it is, but just that I think sexual predation, abuse, pedophilia, etc. are way more prevalent in society than anyone really wants to know or admit. I know of three cases among my own relatives. I also know that at least five of my female friends (over the years) were abused at a young age. I think someone said it above…power and opportunity.
Would it surprise you if Barack Obama molested his daughters? I mean, I get "power and opportunity" but surely there is more than that. I would be utterly flabbergasted and doubtful of reality if Obama was doing anything like that.
 
We are going to have to rename a lot of streets.

And California will need to rename a state holiday. Maybe we can call March 31 "Indigenous Peoples Day No. 2"
 
We are going to have to rename a lot of streets.

And California will need to rename a state holiday. Maybe we can call March 31 "Indigenous Peoples Day No. 2"
It's going to give fuel to those Texas revisionists who were dropping Chavez from history curricula in favor of Sean Hannity, IIRC. We really didn't need this expose at this time in history. Not saying it shouldn't have been investigated or the article remain unwritten. Just saying that it's unfortunate on many levels.
 
It's going to give fuel to those Texas revisionists who were dropping Chavez from history curricula in favor of Sean Hannity, IIRC. We really didn't need this expose at this time in history. Not saying it shouldn't have been investigated or the article remain unwritten. Just saying that it's unfortunate on many levels.
If cancel culture comes for Jefferson and Washington, you just know there are a bunch of Republicans dying to cancel Cesar and MLK.
 
I think I have posted this before, but as a 23yo UNC grad I had a 7yr relationship with a 17yo UNC student at the time.

It never crossed my mind that was inappropriate... but today would it be ?
 
I think I have posted this before, but as a 23yo UNC grad I had a 7yr relationship with a 17yo UNC student at the time.

I never crossed my mind that was inappropriate... but today would it be ?
I guess it depends as to when the 7 years began.

Most states, especially in the South, had 16 as the age of consent. The 18 year age limit is relatively recent.
 
Would it surprise you if Barack Obama molested his daughters? I mean, I get "power and opportunity" but surely there is more than that. I would be utterly flabbergasted and doubtful of reality if Obama was doing anything like that.

Sure. I’m not saying every person is capable, but many clearly are. What about an uncle (or an aunt), a family friend, family of a friend (think sleepover), etc.

I’ll admit that my views have been shaped by what I know, but I don’t think you can ever assume your child is truly safe with anyone that isn’t you.
 
I think I have posted this before, but as a 23yo UNC grad I had a 7yr relationship with a 17yo UNC student at the time.

It never crossed my mind that was inappropriate... but today would it be ?
My first sexual intercourse was illegal -- I was 16 (almost 17) and she was 20.

I understand why statutory rape is strict liability, but there are cases in which it shouldn't be. I mean, I met her because she was my lab partner in chemistry. One would hope that prosecutorial discretion would step in there, and female-male age differences are viewed differently, but still. That woman was not a criminal.
 
I guess it depends as to when the 7 years began.

Most states, especially in the South, had 16 as the age of consent. The 18 year age limit is relatively recent.
Well, he used the word inappropriate, not illegal.

I would say it would more depend on the circumstances. Was the 23 year old cruising for chicks during freshman orientation? Was the 23 year old a graduate instructor? Or did they meet at a concert or the grocery store? Did she initially show interest?
 
My first sexual intercourse was illegal -- I was 16 (almost 17) and she was 20.

I understand why statutory rape is strict liability, but there are cases in which it shouldn't be. I mean, I met her because she was my lab partner in chemistry. One would hope that prosecutorial discretion would step in there, and female-male age differences are viewed differently, but still. That woman was not a criminal.
She was a Bunsen burner I guess? ;)
 
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