Composer Nicolás Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch, the team behind the opera “Dolores,” have issued statements in light of a story detailing how César Chavez raped and sexually molested many women during his time as a major Latino civil rights leader.

“We are deeply dismayed by the news of the indefensible and predatory behavior of the late Cesar Chavez. Our hearts, first and foremost, are with Dolores Huerta and the other survivors, some of whom were children when they were sexually assaulted. It must have been horrible to carry that burden, unable to speak the truth because of Cesar’s sway and power,” the duo said per an official statement. “Our opera centers Dolores: her leadership, her resilience, and the many personal sacrifices she made on behalf of the union and the farm workers. That has not changed. However, the release of this disturbing information about Cesar Chavez brings new context that will take us time to process. Today our focus is with the survivors, and the many thousands of people whose lives will be affected by these revelations.”

The New York Times released a story on March 18, 2026 written by Manny Fernandez and Sarah Hurtes who investigated the story for five years, interviewing victims of Chavez as well as his aides and relatives. In sum, the reporters spoke to over 60 people.

Dolores Huerta, one of the prominent leaders of the movement alongside Chavez, spoke to the NY Times for the story, revealing that Chavez had raped her on two separate occasions and that she remained silent because she didn’t want to detract from the movement and also felt that people within the movement would not accept her truth to protect Chavez. She also revealed after both incidents, she became pregnant, hid her pregnancy, gave birth to both children, and then had them adopted.

“Dolores” had its world premiere in 2025 at West Edge Opera and has also been presented by Opera Southwest, and San Diego Opera. Chávez is a major character in the opera and on the work’s official website, he is described as “self-sacrificing, soft-spoken, flinty.”