Inside La Paz, the California Mountain Compound Led by Cesar Chavez
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- In 1979, Cesar Chavez, leader of the United Farm Workers (UFW), exhibited unusual behavior during a staff meeting by asking who could see his aura after turning off the lights, unsettling longtime union members.
- Larry Tramutola and his wife, longtime UFW organizers, recalled participating in Chavez's unconventional practices, including living on the union's compound and engaging in intense critique sessions, but eventually decided to leave due to growing discomfort.
- Recent revelations of sexual abuse and assault by Chavez have shocked California labor activists who once revered him as a civil rights icon, prompting reflection on his complex legacy.
- Attention has focused on La Paz, the UFW compound near Bakersfield where Chavez lived with followers from 1970 until his death, a place where many believe he began to lose his moral compass despite his earlier leadership successes.
