Strengthening the Farmworkers Movement

Written by Alba Velasquez

There’s been a lot of news recently about Cesar Chavez, and like many of you, It’s been difficult to stomach. Moments like this can feel complicated, especially when they involve someone so closely tied to a movement rooted in justice. But this is exactly when our values matter most.

The farmworker movement and many related food justice movements have never been about one person. It has always been about collective action, about workers organizing, resisting, and demanding dignity in systems that have long exploited their labor. That legacy is bigger than any single leader. It lives in the fields, in the organizing, and in the everyday courage of farmworkers who continue to fight for fair wages, safe conditions, and respect.

It’s also important to be clear that women have always been central to that movement. Their leadership, labor, and resilience shaped its foundation, even when they were not recognized in the same way. During Women’s History Month, that feels especially important to name.

Dolores Huerta speaking out right now is a powerful reminder that truth telling is part of justice. Naming harm does not take away from a movement. It strengthens it by grounding it in accountability and integrity.

We can hold multiple truths at once. We can honor the impact of a movement while also naming harm. We can respect history while still questioning it. That is what it means to stay committed to justice, not blind loyalty, but a willingness to stay rooted in our values even when it’s uncomfortable.

This moment is not about unraveling the farmworker movement. It’s about strengthening it. It’s about remembering that real power has always come from the collective, and making sure that collective includes truth, accountability, and the voices that have too often been pushed aside.

That’s the work. And it continues.

Alba Velasquez leads the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC) as its executive director. She joined LAFPC in 2017 and has worked to expand the impact of its Healthy Markets LA program. Prior to her work at the Council, Velasquez managed initiatives at the National Health Foundation and contributed to urban agriculture research at UCLA. She holds a master’s degree in urban regional planning from UCLA, and her expertise is grounded in her personal experiences as a Salvadoran refugee and community advocate.