BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — As more women come forward with allegations of sexual abuse involving a prominent labor leader, advocates say the public response can be painful for survivors and highlight the need for support.
FILE – United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez talks to striking Salinas Valley farmworkers during a large rally in Salinas, Calif., on March 7, 1979. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
A New York Times investigation reported that civil rights leader Dolores Huerta is among several women who told the newspaper they were groomed and sexually abused by Cesar Chavez. Some people have questioned why the women did not come forward sooner.
FILE – United Farm Workers leader Dolores Huerta, center, leads a rally in San Francisco’s Mission District on Nov. 19, 1988, along with Howard Wallace, president of the San Francisco chapter of the UFW, left, and Maria Elena Chavez, 16, the daughter of Cesar Chavez, right, as part of a national boycott of what the UFW claims is the dangerous use of pesticides on table grapes. (AP Photo/Court Mast, File)
Ilene Parra, director of programs for The Open Door Network, said it can be difficult for survivors of abuse to speak out, especially as the community reacts in real time.
“You have people in real time who have experienced this and are seeing the communities’ response, which is triggering in itself, and it’s a time where we need to stand and support with those who are speaking up,” Parra said.
Parra said there can be many reasons survivors do not report immediately, including what an abuser may have said or threatened.
The top five mental and behavioral health conditions for which people are seeking treatments during the pandemic are: anxiety, depression, substance-related disorders. bipolar disorder, and alcohol related disorders. (WHAM file photo)
“We don’t know what the perpetrator told them to refrain from saying. We don’t know what threats were stated during that time that that incident was happening,” Parra said.
Parra said support should be shown regardless of whether someone reports days or even years later, noting the effects of abuse can impact both mental and physical health.
“You’re dealing with self-worth. You’re dealing with confidence, it could interfere with you physically, such as headaches or stomache achesit could be signs of depression, anxiety,” Parra said.
A woman can be seen leaning on her hand in this undated photo.{ } Research from the American Heart Association suggests a link between mind, heart and body, emphasizing the importance of both mental and physical health. (WWMT)
Parra said the effects can be even more complex in cases involving power and influence, where fear and doubts about being believed can keep people from coming forward.
“There’s a lot of fear, you know. It’s if I go forward, who is this person and what are they capable of doing? Will anybody believe me or will anybody think that I’m not telling the truth? Will justice be served?” Parra said.
Parra also emphasized the role of friends and family when someone chooses to open up about abuse. She said one of the most important things a person can do is listen without judgment and offer support.
“If someone comes forward and tells you that they have experienced abuse, hear them out, listen, no judgment,” Parra said. “They’re telling you for a reason.”
Magdalene Hope announced the grand opening of the Bakersfield Women’s Center which will help women heal and thrive. Credit: KBAK/KBFX
She added that for adult survivors, it’s important to respect their choices and allow them to move forward at their own pace. However, if a child is involved, she said it is critical to report it to ensure their safety.
“If it’s happened to a child, you would want to report that. You would say ‘I hear you and you know I want you to trust me, but I need to do what’s safe for you,’” said Parra.
Healing is a long journey, Parra said, and some days may feel easier than others. She said organizations such as The Open Door Network want the community to know support is available.
The Open Door Network offers a 24-hour hotline and walk-in services for those seeking help.
“It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault what happened. You have agencies like The Open Door Network who have staff who are very passionate about this work and want to walk alongside you through this,” Parra said.