Advocates work to reconcile Csar Chavez's labor rights legacy with sexual abuse allegations

[Jilly_in_VA]

Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband marched and fasted alongside César Chavez. They helped him open a radio station in Phoenix and plastered their Mexican restaurant with photos and a mural of the widely admired Latino icon.

So when Wilcox’s daughter called this week to inform them of sexual abuse allegations leveled against Chavez, she said it felt like a punch to the gut.

By Wednesday morning, the couple had taken down Chavez’s photos from their restaurant walls and made plans to cover the mural.

“We love César Chavez. But we cannot honor him and we cannot even love him anymore,” said the former Phoenix City Council member.

Many like Wilcox are working to reconcile the legacy of a man who fought tirelessly for the rights of farmworkers with stunning allegations that he sexually abused girls and the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union, Dolores Huerta.

https://apnews.com/article/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-08264e63b6f594278239af1ad23ba1fc

Is it not possible to be both?

[jrthin]

1. It is possible to be both. But being a pedophile negates the other.

An example: a mass murder saves a man's life. However, the mass murder will always over shadow the heroic action, making it almost meaningless when viewed as a whole.

[JBTaurus83]

2. He was a flawed human like we all are

It doesn’t take away from the good works. If we are looking for the perfect human, it’s never going to happen.

[leftstreet]

3. Rape and Sexual Assault are not "flaws"

You're thinking of substance abuse, addictive gambling, etc

[EdmondDantes_]

5. Can you explain where you see the difference?

At least some studies suggest pedophiles have neurological differences that lead them to their criminal behavior. I'm not saying it excuses the criminal act, much like we don't excuse an alcoholic from the consequences of driving drunk.

Likewise some pedophiles develop that out of trauma in childhood in the same way some addicts do.

Again not trying to excuse criminal and immoral behavior, but I'm less sure it's completely different and wanted to understand another viewpoint.

[leftstreet]

6. Wow n/t

[JBTaurus83]

7. You are right and I used the wrong words

I guess what I meant, is the movement he helped create was good, even if he turned out not to be. Anything in his name should be named after Delores and other people in the movement instead.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. The town where I grew up is now trying to decide what to rename an elementary school

that was named for him. Why not name it for Dolores Huerta?