San Diego La Raza Lawyers Statement on Cesar Chavez
Estimada Comunidad,
San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association writes to you at a moment that calls for both clarity and courage. The recent revelations concerning Cesar Chavez – allegations of sexual abuse, including the grooming of minors and a broader pattern of misconduct – are deeply painful and profoundly unsettling. For many, Chávez has long stood as a symbol of sacrifice and justice. To confront these accounts is to grapple with a difficult but necessary truth about the complexity of our history.
But ours is a community not defined by one individual, nor by avoidance, but by resolve. We can hold two truths at once: that the farmworker movement remains a righteous and transformative force, and that any harm – especially to the vulnerable – demands acknowledgment, accountability, and compassion for those who come forward. Nuestra fuerza lies not in the advancement of a myth, but in our willingness to face reality with honesty, strength, and integrity – reflecting our deepest cultural values.
As an organization founded to advance equality, empowerment, and justice for Latino attorneys and the Latino community, we reaffirm that these principles guide us not only in our professional work, but in moments like this, when truth and justice must be held together. Our mission calls us to promote diversity, support the next generation through mentorship and scholarships, improve access to legal services for our Spanish speaking communities, and advocate on issues that impact the Latino community.
These commitments shape how we respond: with compassion for survivors, with fairness and due process for all involved, and with an unwavering dedication to justice.
As lawyers and stewards of justice, we affirm a simple principle: there can be no tolerance for abuse in any form. We stand with survivors seeking truth and healing, and we remain equally committed to the careful and principled evaluation of all allegations, grounded in fairness and due process. These are not competing values—they are the foundation of justice itself.
This moment does not diminish our history, for our history is not defined by one man; it is defined by our mutual experiences, our unity as a people and our enduring contributions to this country. It calls us to engage with our history honestly. In doing so, we honor not only the generational ideals we have inherited, but also our responsibility to uphold them. With humility, with resolve, and with an unwavering commitment to justice, SDLRLA moves forward.
Con respeto y en comunidad,
San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association
March 20, 2026