Farmworker rights activist censored because of abortion views

Contributed by Raquel Namuche 

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America and all around respected advocate of human rights, was recently uninvited from speaking at a catholic school in California.  It seems like she was scheduled to speak as part of a day commemorating Cesar Chavez, but was uninvited due to pressure from parents who were worried about Huerta’s pro-choice stance.

Are these parents really worried that Huerta would discuss her thoughts on abortion when she was specifically scheduled to speak on “100 Women Who Have Shaped America?”  I don’t think Huerta would have chosen this particular forum to express her pro-choice sentiments.  This goes a little deeper: 

Last December, parent Steve Loftus’ son told him about an assignment to write a report on Huerta after the teacher had praised her. On Dec. 6, Loftus wrote the principal, Sister Eva Lujano, to complain about the inappropriateness of the assignment. He concluded his letter saying, “I have supported Catholic education at OLG and in the Diocese of Fresno in the past, but this situation makes me seriously question continuing my children’s education in the diocesan school.” Loftus said he received no response.

Loftus told California Catholic Daily he was serious about pulling his children out of Catholic schools if this kind of scandal persisted. “I’m paying for a Catholic education and that’s what I expect to get,” he said. ‘They should be teaching our children to be members of the Church Militant.’

Does all the organizing work Huerta has done on behalf of farm workers mean nothing to someone who is anti-choice simply because she believes in a women’s right to choose?   It’s sad to see that the parents of these students couldn’t see pass through Huerta’s personal beliefs and let their children get the opportunity to hear from one of the most influential activists of our time.  

UPDATE: The LA Times has an article about this issue.

Contributed by Raquel Namuche