(KRON) -- Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta revealed she was among women and girls who say they were sexually abused by Cesar Chavez, the widely admired Latino icon who brought to light the struggles of farm workers. Stunning allegations against Chavez were printed in The New York Times Wednesda y. Huerta said she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker labor movement. Chavez died more than three decades ago. The Chavez family released a statement in reaction to the newspaper's bombshell investigation and allegations. Family members wrote, "Our family is devasted by today’s New York Times article about our father Cesar Chavez. This is deeply painful for our family. We wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. As a family steeped in the values of equity and justice, we honor the voices of those who feel unheard and who report sexual abuse." The family statement continued, "We carry our own memories of the person we knew. Someone whose life included work and contributions that matter deeply to many people. We remain committed to farmworkers and the causes he and countless others championed and continue to champion. We ask for understanding and privacy as we continue to process this difficult information." Bay Area landmarks and schools named after Cesar Chavez According to The New York Times' investigation, Chavez groomed and sexually abused young girls and women who worked in the movement, including Huerta. Huerta said both of her sexual encounters with Chavez led to pregnancies, which she kept secret, and that she arranged for the children to be raised by other families. "No one knew the full truth about how they were conceived until just a few weeks ago," she wrote Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ...read more read less