Abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez leaves farmworker community shaken

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A longtime Central Valley farmworker says helium is heartbroken by caller intersexual maltreatment allegations made against civilian rights person Cesar Chavez, a fig helium credits with transforming moving conditions for thousands of laborers.

In his surviving room, beneath a UFW emblem and a figurine of Chavez, "All of the sacrifice, to beryllium stained successful an instant," Gabriel Valladolid said.

Valladolid, who has picked tomatoes for decades and is simply a arrogant subordinate of the United Farm Workers, keeps a azygous memento from his ain activism: a repast paper from a travel to Sacramento, wherever helium protests for farmworker rights.

Showing the card, helium said, "This is from erstwhile we were warring for overtime and we won successful Sacramento."

He said Chavez's question brought important improvements for farmworkers.

"Farmworkers endure a lot, determination are precise small regulations and rights, but convey you to Caesar Chavez's question there's been a batch of affirmative changes similar shade, water, breaks, and overtime," helium said.

But Valladolid fears the allegations could pb to backing cuts oregon the nonaccomplishment of captious resources to the farmworker assemblage and movement.

"Aside from Cesar Chavez's enactment there's precise fewer others that are helping farmworkers," helium said. "Will determination beryllium nary 1 warring for the workplace workers? That's the impact, I fearfulness of."

The allegations travel conscionable a fewer years aft Fresno renamed respective historical streets to signifier the 10-mile-long Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

The alteration faced absorption and ineligible challenges astatine the time.

Now, Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, the lone metropolis councilmember who voted against the renaming, says helium would backmost a reversal.

"We should instrumentality the humanities discourse of these streets. They ne'er should've been changed, but unfortunately, it would outgo wealth erstwhile again to alteration it back," Bredefeld said.

Supporters of the renaming included erstwhile Councilmember Luis Chavez and existent Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza. All 3 released statements responding to the allegations.

Chavez called them "disappointing and alarming."

Esparza said helium is "stunned," adding that "there are much questions than answers."

Arias said helium supports pausing celebrations portion much accusation emerges, adding that "truth and transparency are essential."

There is simply a UFW protestation scheduled for time regarding wage protections. At this point, organizers archer Action News it is inactive expected to determination guardant contempt these allegations.

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