US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez accused of sexual abuse

US civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, who campaigned for farm workers' rights in the 1960s and 1970s, has been accused of sexual abuse against women and children.

Dolores Huerta said that, in the 1960s, Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union (UFW) with her, once "manipulated and pressured" her into having sex, and on another occasion forced her.

The New York Times published an investigation on Wednesday detailing allegations from Huerta and two other women, who said Chavez groomed and sexually abused girls involved in the labour movement.

Chavez's family said in a statement they were "devastated" by the reports and praised the women's "courage to come forward".

Chavez, who died in 1993 aged 66, rallied California's farmworkers from the 1950s to push for improvements in working conditions, and led national boycotts and marches.

Huerta, 95, said the two encounters with Chavez resulted in pregnancies that she chose to keep secret, arranging for the children to be raised by other families.

"I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was my life's work," she said in a statement.

Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, told the New York Times that Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were girls, from around 1972-77, when he was in his 40s.

Local communities are now reckoning with how to change memorials to the labour leader.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and city council members signed a proclamation on Wednesday renaming "Cesar Chavez Day" a California holiday to "Farm Workers Day".

"The sickening reality is that what Dolores, Ana and Debra endured is not isolated, nor is it of the past," said Bass.

In Washington DC, at the US Department of Labor, Chavez's portrait has been removed and a US flag covers his name at the entrance.

At a Chavez memorial in Stockton, California, a sign was placed over the top of the plaque that read "believe women and children".

Events to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day, a commemorative holiday that takes place on 31 March, have been cancelled or renamed.

The UFW said in a statement it was cancelling its participation in the celebrations.

The union added that it had "not received any direct reports" and "do not have any first-hand knowledge" of the allegations.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the farm workers' movement and labour movement were "much bigger than one man" and that he stood with "courageous women" like Huerta.

He said he was open to renaming Cesar Chavez Day in California.

Republican California assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has also filed legislation to change the holiday's name to Farmworker Day.

The allegations have prompted widespread condemnation, including from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a civil rights organisation.

"No individual, regardless of stature or legacy, is above accountability when it comes to protecting and upholding the dignity of others," LULAC said in a statement.

The Cesar Chavez Foundation said it was aware of "disturbing allegations" that its founder had engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviour with women and children during his time as president of the UFW.

The foundation said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the allegations, and was working with leaders in the farm workers' movement "to be responsive to these allegations" and to support those who may have been harmed.