No Legacy Is Beyond Accountability
Statement from Max Vargas, President and CEO of The Greenlining Institute:
We are heartbroken, devastated, and betrayed by the news of César Chávez and his abuses of women and children.
We hold close the courage of Dolores Huerta, Anna Murguia, Debra Rojas, and the many others whose stories — spoken and unspoken — tell the full truth of that harm. Their experiences and their voices demand more from us than acknowledgment. They demand accountability, care, and transformation.
Like so many young Latinos drawn to social justice, the Delano Grape Strike was a beacon. It was proof that our people could confront injustice and win, no matter the darkness of our skin or the language we spoke. Chávez’s legacy loomed large in that story, but it’s not the only one.
Our movements have always been powered by collective action, shared commitment, and community leadership. Individual leaders in our movements are important, but they alone are not what drives our movements forward. It is and always will be the collective.
As Huerta reminds us:
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.
At Greenlining, we believe no legacy is beyond scrutiny. Naming harm — especially when it involves abuse of power, misogyny, and violence against women — is not a betrayal of the movement. It is a reflection of our unequivocal commitment to justice, and to the people who dedicate themselves to this work and comprise the movements that propel us forward.
Greenlining’s history is rooted in a multiracial coalition coming together to challenge injustice and reimagine systems that exploit our communities—much like the farm workers and their allies in Delano. That legacy compels us to do more than honor the past; it calls us to build on it and strive for more. To ensure that our movements are not only powerful, but also safe, equitable, and accountable to the people they serve.
I offer this statement not only to acknowledge harm, but to situate it within a broader commitment to solidarity. Moments like this can be used to cast doubt on people-led movements and reinforce harmful narratives about marginalized communities. We reject that framing. Our commitment to multi-racial and multi-generational movements for shared liberation and economic equity remains unwavering. This work has always been collective rather than individual, and its strength depends on our willingness to confront harm and hold firm to the values we claim.
We remain steadfast in our commitment — to workers, to women, and to all those who have been marginalized — to build a just future where dignity is pervasive and equity is the norm. We stand with you, Dolores. And we carry forward the true legacy of this movement: in the enduring power of our people and our beautiful vision for a future where all of us can thrive.
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/
