Psychological toll of betrayal trauma may help explain why women kept silent for decades after alleged abuse by civil rights icon Cesar Chavez

A researcher answers the question many asked when they heard charges of abuse and rape against civil rights icon Cesar Chavez: Why didn’t the women speak earlier about the events from decades ago?

By: Anne P. DePrince, University of Denver, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 23, 2026

Words: 1,146

Last Updated: 4 months, 1 week ago

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By Anne P. DePrince, University of Denver

Multiple women told The New York Times that Mexican American civil rights hero Cesar Chavez assaulted them decades ago, including when some were just girls, one as young as 13. Over their multiyear investigation, published on March 18, 2026, journalists at the paper found “extensive evidence” of that abuse by poring over historical records and conducting interviews with more than 60 people.

While yearslong investigations into abuse allegations …

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