1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: Hey there, everybody. It is Thursday, March nineteenth, and this 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: powerful statement. I have kept this secret long enough. My 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: silence ends. Here. We are hearing from a ninety five 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: year old woman who has added to the growing accusations 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: against iconic Latino labor rights leader Presidential Medal of Freedom 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: recipient SAEs Our Chavez after a stunning investigation by the 7 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: New York Times. And with that, everyone, welcome to this 8 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 1: episode of Amy and TJ. These details, these women's stories 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: are all powerful. But Delores huerta Wow. Her full statement 10 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: is something that I believe everyone should read. 11 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: Please let's do here. This has been breaking and a 12 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: lot of headlines, a lot of people trying to understand 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 2: the headlines. Some don't even understand the full history. But 14 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: she is significant and was right by his side during 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: much of his rise to prominence. 16 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: Absolutely, So we're going to read Delores Squerto's full statement 17 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: and we'll get into the growing calls to basically reassess 18 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: how we view Sayesar Chavez. We have a federal holiday 19 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: the state of California honors this man. His face, his name, 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: his likeness is all throughout this country and certainly a 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: huge part of our history. So here now from a 22 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: woman who worked alongside him and co founded his movement. 23 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: I am nearly ninety six years old, and for the 24 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: last sixty years have kept a secret because I believe 25 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,279 Speaker 1: that exposing the truth would hurt the farm worker movement. 26 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: I have spent my entire life fighting for I have 27 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: encouraged people to always use their voice. Following the New 28 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: York Times multi year investigation into sexual misconduct by Saesar Chavez, 29 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: I can no longer stay silent and must share my 30 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: own experiences. As a young mother in the nineteen sixties, 31 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: I experience two separate sexual encounters with Saesar. The first time, 32 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him, 33 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: and I didn't feel I could say no because he 34 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: was someone that I admired, my boss and the leader 35 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: of the movement. I had already devoted years of my 36 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: life to the second time, I was forced against my 37 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: will and in an environment where I felt trapped. Her 38 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: story mirrors so many of the stories of the women 39 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: from the New York Times article. 40 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: Yeah and it's again. This is a ninety plusure old 41 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: woman telling the story. 42 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: Now, and she had kept this secret even from her 43 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 1: own family. She goes on to say I had experienced 44 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: abuse and sexual violence before, and I convinced myself these 45 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: were incidents that I had to endure alone and in secret. 46 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: Both sexual encounters with Sesar led to pregnancies. I chose 47 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: to keep my pregnancy secret, and after the children were born, 48 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: I arranged for them to be raised by other families 49 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: that could give them stable lives. Over the years, I've 50 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: been fortunate to develop a deep relationship with these children, 51 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: who are now close to my other children, their siblings. 52 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: But even then, no one knew the full truth about 53 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,799 Speaker 1: how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago. 54 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: That is stunning. 55 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 2: Now I get this off her mind, now, yeah, I mean, 56 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: she tells a pretty incredible story that, given her age 57 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: or closeness to him, and frankly her motivation at this 58 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 2: point in her life, people have to stop and you 59 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: will sit up and pay attention to her. 60 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: Yes, because you know there's this this struggle I think 61 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: from her and from the other women who came forward 62 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: because they didn't want to tarnish this celebrated man who 63 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: did so much for so many. This is a man 64 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: who polled not just individual farm workers and people out 65 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: of poverty, but changed generationally people's entire livelihoods. He changed 66 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: the course of so many people's lives by helping them 67 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: band together and demand rights and freedoms and equal pay 68 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: and all of that. He did so much good in 69 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: the world. 70 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: I don't know how to people know the name. I 71 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: don't know how and what. It's hard to compare, but 72 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 2: to put him on a level it's difficult to You 73 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: can't overstate his status as an icon in this country. 74 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 2: You cannot overstate it. 75 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: And that speaks to why she carried the secret. She said, 76 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: I carried the secret for as long as I did 77 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: because building the movement and securing farm worker rights was 78 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: my life's work. The formation of a union was the 79 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: only vehicle to achieve and secure those rights, and I 80 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: wasn't going to let Sazar or anyone else get in 81 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: the way. I channeled everything I had into advocating on 82 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: behalf of millions of farm workers and others who were 83 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: suffering and deserved equal rights. She said, I have never 84 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that 85 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: I am a survivor of violence, of sexual abuse, of 86 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: domineering men who saw me and other women as property 87 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: or things to control. She says, I am telling my 88 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: story because the New York Times has indicated that I 89 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: was not the only one. There were others. Women are 90 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: coming forward sharing that they were sexually abused and assaulted 91 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: by Sesar when they were girls and teenagers. The struggle. 92 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: We've seen this in so many other stories, unfortunately, from 93 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: Epstein to other predators, where these women are looking up 94 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: to these men in positions of power, and in this case, 95 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: a man who was doing good for the world. How 96 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: do you how do we balance someone's legacy who did 97 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: so much good with these horrific accounts we're hearing from 98 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: these women. 99 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: And as we've seen plenty of times with women in 100 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 2: cases like this, one speaks and then here come a 101 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: couple other, a dozen other thinking wow, I wasn't the 102 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: only one. And we've seen this happen plenty of times before. 103 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: And we should also stay well, he is not around 104 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 2: to defend himself, and at this point I haven't heard 105 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: much of anybody defending him at all. 106 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: That's true, we will get into in just a bit. 107 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,279 Speaker 1: Because his foundation, his family, they have released statements in 108 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: the wake of this massive investigation, but certainly hearing again 109 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 1: more from wherever the Her statement is just remarkable, But 110 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: she goes on to say, the knowledge that he hurt 111 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who 112 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no 113 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions that he did. 114 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: Saesar's actions do not reflect the values of our community 115 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: and our movement. The farm worker movement has always been 116 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: bigger and far more important than any one individual. Saesar's 117 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farm 118 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: workers with the help of thousands of people, and we 119 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: must continue to engage and support our community, which needs 120 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: advocacy and activism now more than ever. You can still 121 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: hear where her heart is, her passion is, and how 122 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: much she doesn't want what she has to say, what 123 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: her story, what all these other women's story. She doesn't 124 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: want it to take away from all that's been done 125 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: and all that still needs to be done. So she 126 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: talks about her commitment to workers, her commitment to women's rights, 127 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: to make sure that everyone has a voice, and that 128 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: communities are treated with dignity and given the equality that 129 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: they have so long been denied. But yeah, I started 130 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: out with this sentence. It is how she ended her statement. 131 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: I just thought it was so powerful. I have kept 132 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: this secret long enough. My silence ends here and she begins, 133 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: she is about to turn ninety six. To have lived 134 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: with this for that many decades is remarkable to me, 135 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: and her voice matters. It has power, and I imagine 136 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: more women will feel empowered because of this. 137 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 2: She wasn't the one originally, right did they have her 138 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: in the New York Times? 139 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: They did not. 140 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: So she has stepped forward. As I'm not taking any 141 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: thing away from those saw the other women who have 142 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: come forward. Hers is her lens incredible credibility to their 143 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: claims as well. 144 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely, she was right by his side. They show pictures. 145 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: She was there with him. She co founded the organization 146 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: with him. And so we heard from the Chavez family 147 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: and the foundation. They said they were devastated by the article. 148 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: They described the allegations and they actually call them the 149 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: revelations as deeply painful and to your point, maybe they 150 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: didn't deny it. These rumors have been around. There were 151 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: even reports that when someone said something to him personally 152 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: in the eighties, he just kind of sighed, like made 153 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: a noise, but never even responded. So this isn't a 154 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: new allegation, but the sheer amount of women coming forward. 155 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: The New York Times that they spoke to over sixty people, 156 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: and that these accounts have almost all been beyond corroborated, 157 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: that they felt very confident and they're reporting to take 158 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: someone down like they had to be. 159 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: I mean, you have this is not He's iconic. I 160 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 2: mean he is a legend to where we celebrate his 161 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 2: life and his contributions, not just individually, but as local 162 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: and state governments we honor him. I'm not the only 163 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: I'm looking towards MLK right that we Again, it's not 164 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 2: comparative and how important someone was to a particular community, 165 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 2: but his name lends itself to the community, the Latino 166 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 2: community in that way. Streets, buildings, schools, statues, you name 167 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 2: it honor this guy. 168 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's now all in question. We know now 169 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: that several different states are now considering changing the names 170 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: of those streets and those schools and those buildings. Marches 171 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: have been already canceled. We're going to talk about you. Remember, like, 172 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: so I knew Seesar Chavez his name for sure. I 173 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: know the phrase cise pue. Yes, we can. It's been 174 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: used as a political mantra, and it began with him. 175 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: He was the first person to say that he he 176 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 1: strengthened the political power of Latinos. He made politicians recognize 177 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: the power of the Latino vote. Again, I mentioned he 178 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in nineteen ninety four. 179 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: I didn't know this. Biden put a bronze bust of 180 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: him on display in the Oval Office. That is just 181 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 1: speaking to his level of influence and importance in this 182 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: country's history. 183 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 2: Did Trump take it out immediately? 184 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: I don't know that, but it wouldn't be surprising if 185 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: that were the case. He died in nineteen ninety three 186 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: at the age of sixty six. So you pointed out 187 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,959 Speaker 1: he's not here to defend himself. But when we come back, 188 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: we're going to tell you and give you the exact 189 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: statement from the Chavez family and the foundation, and will 190 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: also give you the United farm Workers Association, the union 191 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: that he founded, and their response to all of these allegations. 192 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: And welcome back to this episode of Amy and TJ, 193 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 1: where we are discussing the growing and just frankly shocking 194 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: accusations that have been mounting against iconic Latino labor rights leaders, 195 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: says our Chavez of note, his co founder, Deloresquerta, at 196 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: the age of ninety five, just released a compelling statement 197 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: detailing years of abuse, the fact that she even gave 198 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: birth to two children she claims that were the result 199 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: of being raped by Chavez. Well, we hear now from 200 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: the Chavez Family Foundation. Their statement reads like this, We 201 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their 202 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 1: courage to come forward. As a family steeped and the 203 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of 204 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 1: those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse. We 205 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: carry our own memories of the person we knew, someone 206 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to 207 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: many people. That was an impactful statement. 208 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 2: Well for them not to just flat out defend, I 209 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 2: don't know how you strike the balance. You have to 210 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 2: people have to be listened to the question that's going 211 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: to and maybe this investigation will with that direction of 212 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 2: who knew what? When we talk about rumors have been 213 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 2: swirling around this type of thing for decades, and so 214 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 2: were there people who did know, who were protecting this 215 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 2: who felt that there was some argument to be made, 216 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: and still today you could make the argument that what 217 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 2: he did and his contribution was more important as a whole. 218 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 2: I don't know if I could subscribe to that. If 219 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: one person was harmed, then the movement be damned. I 220 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 2: don't know. 221 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: It's so difficult to separate all the good he did 222 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: with all the harm he is now alleged to have 223 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: brought on so many young women. And look the New 224 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: York Times investigation, we're talking about women who are now 225 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: detailing this abuse from fifty years ago when they were thirteen, 226 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: when they were twelve, and they all have similar stories. 227 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: And a lot of these young girls were daughters of 228 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: organizers who were marching alongside Chavez, who were a part 229 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: of this movement, and their fathers and mothers presumably thought 230 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: their daughters were safe with him or around him. But 231 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: these were also women who came forward, worked and volunteered 232 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: with Chavez. They were enamored with him, they loved him, 233 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: they loved what he did, and they were confused by 234 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: the abuse because they say they stayed silent out of 235 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: shame and fear of tarnishing his image. And that makes sense, 236 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: And no one knew that anyone else was being harmed. 237 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: When you're isolated and you're made to think you're the 238 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: only one, you don't realized by not speaking up other people, 239 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: other young girls might be harmed. And you can hear 240 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: that in so many of these women's stories now today, 241 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: with that knowledge that they weren't alone, that this was 242 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: something that so many women unfortunately reportedly experienced. The United 243 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: farm Workers Association, I think it's fair to say they're 244 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: distancing themselves from Chavez at this point. Now, lots of cancelations. 245 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: What do you mean, March thirty first is the formal holiday, 246 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: says our Chavez Day, The actual organization that Chavez founded 247 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: is now abstaining from the formal holiday, which is recognized 248 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: in California, Utah, Arizona, and Washington. That's remarkable. 249 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: I mean, they are essentially abandoning their hero, the guy 250 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: who found at the organization, who was the head of 251 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 2: a particular movement. Now, I think that says even more 252 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: than her statement is that we the organization in which 253 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 2: he is beloved, we're not with him anymore. It's difficult 254 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: because he's not around to defend himself and nobody is 255 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 2: defending him, so it's difficult to just pile on quite frankly, 256 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: and what are accusations? He was never brought to right 257 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 2: any no any judicial system to face any type of 258 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: any type of justice. So what do you do? What 259 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 2: happens now? You have to believe the women that have 260 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 2: come forward, and we have to, I guess, come to 261 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: grips with this legend did monstrous things behind the scenes, 262 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 2: which means now what I mean. 263 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: I think it's a cautionary tale about unchecked power, about 264 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: even if someone is doing good and making change for 265 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: good in the world and empowering people who have no voice, 266 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: those people still have to be checked. They still have 267 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: to be held accountable. They can't be hailed as gods 268 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: or heroes or put on some pedestal where they're allowed 269 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: to do whatever they want because of the good they 270 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: have done in the world. Somehow they get to do 271 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: whatever they want. They get this feeling of grandeur of 272 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: not being held accountable. They feel like they're invincible. These 273 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: are cautionary tales. This isn't the first one. Unfortunately it 274 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 1: won't be the last one, but it's something to remember 275 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: and it's important to discuss and talk about so we 276 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: can hopefully try to prevent this from happening again. But yeah, 277 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: we're now looking at perhaps massive changes in not just 278 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: government buildings and streets and celebrations and parades and marches 279 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: and busts and pictures that are everywhere of Sesar Chavez, 280 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: but certainly just another reminder that good people can do 281 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: bad things, and that we have to be willing to 282 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: recognize all of the above and listen to the women 283 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: who are speaking up and speaking out, and certainly Dolores 284 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: Puerta has us all listening to her, and with that, everyone, 285 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 1: we appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy roback alongside TJ. Holmes. 286 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: We will talk to you soon.