Today, at nearly 96 years old, Dolores Huerta ended 60 years of silence, and the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee stands with her, with Ana, Esmeralda, and Debra unequivocally.
We believe all the women who came forward today and who will be coming forward to tell their truth. And we refuse to let reverence for any individual — no matter how storied their legacy — shield them from accountability for sexual violence.
In Dolores’ own words: “I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor — of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control.”
Sexual violence does not become acceptable because the person who committed it also built something important. Movements are not more valuable than the people within them.
We call on our entire community — political leaders, organizers, and elected officials especially — to say this clearly and without equivocation: no legacy exempts anyone from accountability. Believe survivors when they come forward immediately. Believe them when they come forward after years or decades of silence.
Failure to step up as a community has serious consequences. Those who perpetuate harm rarely stop with one individual. As Dolores stated, “The knowledge that he hurt young girls sickens me. My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years. There are no words strong enough to condemn those deplorable actions.“
SFWPC is committed to a San Francisco where survivors are supported and never forced to choose between their safety and their truth. We will continue to demand accountability in political spaces and stand beside survivors — not as a gesture, but as a commitment. We must demand justice for women and girls.
The responsibility is upon all of us to speak up.
If you are a survivor or have been impacted by sexual violence, resources are available through the Dolores Huerta Foundation at doloreshuerta.org/sexual_assault_resources and locally through sf.gov/information/san-francisco-gender-based-violence-resources.
You can also reach SFWPC at info@sfwpc.org.
Leave a Reply