This is a sad and difficult story--abuse by Cesar Chavez

On Wednesday, March 18 I was asked to share my story in a brief presentation with my local Rotary club. Everyone during the year is asked to share a five minute talk about their story. As part of my presentation I talked briefly about my experience with the farm workers and Cesar Chavez. I shared the picture below taken in La Paz of Cesar and others (me included.) 

Later that morning, my phone started blowing up with questions from my friends about sexual abuse by Cesar Chavez. I was shocked. 

The New York Times reported that morning that Cesar sexually abused young girls and raped and impregnated Dolores Huerta. The article said that three woman had accused Cesar of abusing them. The article is here: nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/what-to-know-cesar-chavez-sex-abuse.html. 

A Wikipedia page has been set up about the abuse, which is here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez_sexual_abuse_allegations

I’ve read everything I can about these allegations and listened to a radio interview that Dolores gave. I believe Dolores and the allegations that are in the New York Times piece. I never had any inclination when I worked for the farm workers or since that this abuse took place. No matter how hard it is to know this happened—and for me it is very hard, it’s essential that the truth is shared.  

I worked for the farm workers in two different stints. I first worked for them in Los Angeles right after graduating from college from August 1986 to August 1987. Most of the work I did then was to travel to churches and synagogues and share a video about the grape boycott that was happening. I lived in community with others at a place called the Harvard House in Los Angeles. I was a full-time volunteer—living on $32 a week.

It was an incredible learning experience. Until that time I knew hardly anything about the farm workers. I poured myself into learning about the history. I read everything I could about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. I occasionally interacted with both of them. I frequently traveled to La Paz, the headquarters for the farm workers. I learned so much about organizing and about how I—a middle-class, white guy—needed to listen to the stories of farm workers and others.

During my first year of seminary at Union seminary in New York City I became very active with the farm workers again. During the school year of 1988-1989 I helped organized fast chains among the students at Union. This was in response to the thirty-six day fast of Cesar’s. In the spring of 1989, I organized a march of about 500 people in the Upper West Side of Manhattan during Cesar’s first trip to New York City after the fast. In the summer of 1989 I was asked to come work for the farm workers again, and I did. I left school and went back to California and worked for them until August 1990. During that time I organized a speaking tour for Cesar that raised over $50,000 for the Union. And I remember once driving Dolores from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a conference where she spoke. For a while I considered working permanently for the farm workers, but decided to go back to seminary.

To me Cesar Chavez was a transformational leader who did something that no other person has ever been able to do—organize farm workers into a Union. Many, many other people helped him do this, including, of course, Dolores Huerta. And, for sure, Dolores has not received the credit she deserves for her work and accomplishments. I was especially captivated by Cesar’s call to non-violence and his intent for people to live in community who worked for the farm workers. Working for the farm workers wasn’t a job—it was being part of a larger calling. We lived in community, were poor ourselves as we hardly made any money, and did all we could to support La Causa. It was not surprising to me at all that Dolores wouldn’t share her story until near the end of her life because she did not want to hurt the movement. People who worked for the farm workers cared very, very deeply.

When I worked for the farm workers I always heard stories about Cesar’s power and the dissidents who left the UFW. I never experienced that power myself. Like many, I didn’t see myself as working for Cesar; I saw myself as working for the movement. We wanted to bring justice to farm workers, the poorest of the poor. I heard but never experienced the dark side of Cesar.

All over the country, many are changing the Cesar Chavez celebrations that would have happened tomorrow, March 31, on his birthday. I understand why these celebrations won’t happen. I myself took down my picture of Cesar that has hung next to a picture of Dolores Huerta on my office wall. Dolores’ picture still remains.

As I said above, it’s imperative that the truth come out.

It’s hard for many to overstate the connection that the Latino community has had to Cesar Chavez. When I worked in Los Angeles I got to know many Latinos. Almost all of them had a picture of Cesar in their home.

The importance of organizing farm workers has not changed because of what has come forth about Cesar. Every time I purchase grapes in the store I think about the brown hands that picked them near Delano, California. These unknown hands and their welfare is what is most important. People will eventually sort out the legacy of Cesar Chavez. But the welfare of farm workers—their pay and working conditions must always be lifted up for all to know. 

This is a very sad and difficult story. 

For me working for the farm workers was a privilege. I will always look at it with appreciation. I still have friends in the movement. I will always support the United Farm Workers and have deep respect for the difficulty and importance of their work.

Blizzard!

 

This past weekend, the state of Minnesota experienced a blizzard. It’s the first for a while, and it seems that our area has not had as many blizzards in the past. Paul Douglas, well-known meteorologist in the Twin Cities, wrote that the Twin Cities has only had four blizzard warnings in the past twenty years. startribune.com/douglas-a-lot-of-snow-cold-and-then-the-thaw/601598959

And for those reading this blog who need definitions, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard warming as 1) Snow and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to 1/4 mile or less for 3 hours or longer AND 2)  Sustained winds of 35 mph or greater or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater.

During the winter I check the weather forecast for the upcoming Sunday on Monday. I want to know if weather is going to impact worship. This past Monday, I saw that the weather forecast shared that our area was going to get hit by snow on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Not good for worship.

And we had big plans for worship this past weekend. We had invited the Eggroll Queen Food Truck to come to worship and encouraged people to “Invite a Friend.” We’ve gotten into a routine of doing our best of having “Invite a Friend Sunday on the third Sunday of every month. And at least once a quarter we try to do something very special on those Sundays.

We had weather during the week, so the weather forecasters really didn’t focus on the weekend weather until late Thursday/early Friday. But when they did the message was consistent—the Metro area was going to get hit by a blizzard.

Less than five times in my thirty-three years of ministry have I had worship canceled because of weather. For a long time, my attitude was—“I will make it to worship even if I have to take extraordinary efforts. And whoever wants to come will be welcomed.”

However with Livestream so easily done, this attitude of doing whatever-it-takes to worship seems antiquated. If the weather is going to be really bad, why not just do a video. And that’s what we did. We did the Live Stream on Saturday at 5pm. We encouraged people to watch the Live Stream or the video. And many did. The number of people who was twice as high as normal. We did the Live Stream with five people (including me) present.

And for those who want to watch the video of worship at Chain of Lakes, go to vimeo.com/manage/videos/1171773895

The first flakes of snow started falling as we were doing the Livestream.

In advance of the blizzard, I saw a listing of the top snowfalls in the Twin Cities area. The link is here: dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/top_twenty_snowfalls.html

I remember many of those blizzards. I was not in the area during the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, but during many others I was. I went through the list and remembered stories from many of those blizzards. I remember getting stuck in a car in a blizzard many times as a boy. Certainly not something I recommend!

The biggest blizzard I remember happened January 1975. It didn’t make the top list of blizzards in terms of snowfall, but it’s the one I remember as being the strongest. We were let out of school early. The wind was fierce and it was very, very cold. I remember walking half a block and pulling out icicles from my eye lashes. It was also known as the Super Bowl Blizzard as the Vikings lost to the Steelers that weekend. According to the Famer’s Almanac web site, fourteen people died in that blizzard and twenty-one more died from heart attacks. The link to a further description of that blizzard is here: www.farmersalmanac.com/the-super-bowl-storm-of-75-18109?fbclid=IwY2xjawQlRPNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFmc3dLaFZ1SkJ1a3h6NnRZc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkC4suTD80DrT4P5hW5-RgSJo3P1AqE3dMM2Bdgi3v36oBcg7clgolotIGDO_aem_D07LtsfGfVhFLfw5VhAdTA

The blizzard this past weekend paled in comparison to that. We did receive about eight inches of snow in Blaine (my estimate with my eye.) I didn’t leave the house from Saturday evening to Monday morning except to blow snow. I ended up blowing snow twice and shoveling once. Thank, God for snow blowers! Parts of southern Minnesota received about twenty inches of snow.

Most of the snow will be melted by this Sunday—when we will have the Eggroll Queen at Chain of Lakes. Even though the temperature won’t get above twenty today, a lot of snow is melting because of the high angle of the sky.

Anyone who has lived in Minnesota for an extended period of time has a blizzard story. Consider sharing a story in the comments.

Is the war with Iran a just war?

 

“War itself is, of course, a form of madness. It’s hardly a civilized pursuit. It’s amazing how we spend so much time inventing devices to kill each other and so little time working on how to achieve peace.” – Walter Cronkite (Journalist, 1916 – 2009, USA)

Walter Cronkite’s quote can apply to the current war that the United States, or should I say President Trump has waged on Iran. Since “Operation Epic Fury” was started the human and financial cost has been very high. A lot of people have been thinking in the past month how to kill “the enemy.”  

Yesterday in worship at Chain of Lakes Church yesterday I shared a sermon on the Sermon on the Mount. (the sermon starts at the 18 minute mark at this link: March 8, 2026, Worship Service). I believe the words that Jesus shared on the Mount of Beatitudes make up the greatest sermon ever. The sermon speaks directly into our human condition. Who doesn’t struggle with worry or anxiety, who doesn’t struggle with forgiving others, who doesn’t want to shine light. Jesus shared a grand and glorious vision that can inspire and teach us as individuals and as faith-filled people in community.  

At the start of the sermon Jesus shared nine beatitudes. The beatitude, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9) is relevant when we think about the United States war with Iran. Just as relevant is Jesus' section in the antitheses section when he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44-45a)

The word “blessed” that described peacemakers in Matthew 5:9 is plural. Jesus was not telling his followers in this verse about individual peace or serenity. Jesus was saying that communities are blessed when they identify as peacemakers. The world is blessed when faith communities live into this calling of Jesus and advocate for peace.   

The statistics about the war are startling. According to National Public Radio, more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, more than 400 in Lebanon and eleven people in Israel. One-hundred-eight-five children reportedly were killed in Minab, Iran, in a United States air strike on February 28. Seven United States military personnel have died.

The financial cost of the war is also startling. Reports have estimated that the war is costing the United States a billion dollars a day. Each tomahawk missile that explodes costs at least a million dollars.  

Now is the time for leaders in the church to follow the teaching to be peacemakers that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. We’re called to speak out. To speak we must discern what Jesus would have us say. I think and wonder what Jesus would say if he was in meetings in Washington DE when the Administration decided to go to war with Iran. It’s hard for me to believe that he would support this war.

If there was ever a time to apply the criteria of a Just War, it is now. According to a Wikipedia page on the topic, the idea of a Just War was started by Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, before being developed further by Augustine.

I’m not convinced that Jesus would be in favor of the Just War Doctrine—as I believe that Jesus would be against any war. However the church has developed five criteria to help people decide if a war is just. 

The criteria are:

Is the war a just cause

Is the war a last resort

Is the war declared by a proper authority

Does the war possess the right intention

Is the end proportional to the means

It’s worth applying each of these criteria to the war with Iran.

Is the war a just cause?

I think a person could make the argument that if Iran was about the fire a nuclear weapon at the United States then the war was just. Presdient Trump justified this current war by arguing that Iran was going to attack the United States. However no information was shared to back up that claim. The United States bombed Iran this past summer. President Trump claimed that  and claimed that Iran’s nuclear arsenal was completely and totally obliterated. Does this war make the claims to success in that bombing campaign a lie? Until the Administration publicly and openly makes the case with evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States, the answer to this question is “no.”

Is the war a last resort

If the United States or its military was on the verge of being attacked, then the war could be declared a last resort. The leaders of the United States could have gone through the painstaking process of making the casse to the allies of our country to join the United States in the war. It’s not clear if this happened. We know that most of the allies of the United States are not in favor of the war.

I would have much more comfortable if a group of allies of the United States had joined in declaring war. President George H Bush spent a lot of time lining up support among the allies of the United States before the first Iraq War.

It seems that the answer to this question is “no.”

Is the war declared by a proper authority

Congress has the authority to declare a war in the United States. And Congress still has not passed a resolution declaring war. Once again the Executive branch has bypassed Congress in declaring a war. Many Presidents of each political party have done this. The answer to this question is a definite, “no.”

Possess the right intention

What is the aim of this war? Is it to wipe out the nuclear capacity of Iran? Is it to overthrow the government? Is it to remake the Middle East? The words of the United States leaders and the actions of our country seem to indicate that some combination of these three make up the aim. Certainly, the aim is more than wiping out Iran’s nuclear capacity. If this had been the case then the United States would not have bombed a school in Minab, Iran that killed almost two hundred children. It is a huge mistake not to communicate consistently the intention of the war. Until the public is told the same message about the intention of the war, it's hard to even answer this question. Right now, it seems that the answer to this question is "no.”

The end is proportional to the means

The continued bombing of Iran and the Israeli bombing in Lebanon does not seem to be proportional to the end—certainly not the end of destroying Iraq’s nuclear capabilities, if that is the intention of the war. Again the answer to this question is “no.”

The answer to these five questions that make up the Just War Doctrine are all “no.” This was is not just.

What can we do?

Public Opinion in the United States is against the war. According to Real Clear Politics, the aggregate of polls about the war show that 49.2 percent are against the war while 42 percent are in favor. With the absence of any mass protests against the war, it’s important to keep speaking up. Hopefully the bombing will end soon. I have no idea what the end game for this war will be. The United States does not have a strong track record of leaving countries in peace—look at Iraq and Afghanistan. With this war seemingly so hastily started, I’m not encouraged that a solid end game plan exists.

Whatever our view about this war and whether it is just, we can all pray for peace. I am praying every day for peace in Iran and minimal casualties on both sides. 

It has not been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon

It has not been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, aka Minnesota. In fact it’s been a terrible week in Minnesota; it’s been a terrible January in Minnesota; it’s been terrible in this state that I love ever since Operation Metro Surge began in December. 

I’ve had many friends from across the country who have reached out to me to ask how I am doing. For me, it’s going well. I’ve had zero contact with ICE; I went to a press conference of religious leaders earlier this month; I attended a march of tens of thousands of people this past Friday; I’ve mentioned the invasion during every sermon and prayer during worship at Chain of Lakes church every Sunday I've led worship in January. 

My privilege has protected me so far. Many are not that fortunate.

I’ve written often in this blog about my thoughts about undocumented people being in the United States. Many years ago when I worked for the farm workers in California, I met and came across people who were not citizens. They were decent people trying to create a better life for their families. They were not a threat to public safety. The agricultural industry in California could not operate as they do without workers who are not citizens.

This is how I view people who live in Minnesota who are not citizens. I am not afraid of them; I do not think that public safety is significantly diminished by their presence; I believe that many companies could not operate as they do without their presence. My personal dream is an Immigration Law will be passed that offers a way forward towards citizenship for those who are not citizens. 

To see ICE agents come into Minnesota with the purpose of ridding our state of dangerous undocumented people seemed to me a solution looking for a problem. I do not see this group of people as dangerous. Of course, people who commit crimes—whether the person is a citizen or not—should be punished by the laws that are established.

If the purpose of Operation Metro Surge was to make the Twin Cities Metro safer, then that purpose has failed miserably. I’m guessing that most people in the Twin Cities feel less safe today compared to the day when Operation Metro Surge began.

But the ICE operation stopped long ago from being an initiative that makes people in the Twin Cities Metro safer. It became an example of the Federal Government and some leaders wanting to display force and power. This ICE operation is not something that respects laws and constitutional norms of our country. The respected police officers of our community would not operate as ICE agents have.

When did it become a good idea for the Federal Government to jam a policy down the throat of a state that doesn’t want that policy?

I haven’t done much to respond, but I want to respond. On Friday I decided to participate in the march from the Commons, a beautiful park near US Bank Stadium, to Target Center. I knew about the demonstration at the airport that morning where clergy were arrested. I couldn’t have gone to that as I was enjoying the morning with my granddaughter. I probably wouldn’t have decided to be arrested, though my heart was with my clergy colleagues who were.

When I approached the Washington Ave exit off of 35W I started to get the sense that this rally could be very large. The line of cars to exit was very long. When I turned off of 35W I immediately looked for parking and fortunately found it. I arrived at the Commons to see that this rally indeed was very large. Tens of thousands of people were there. I looked for some clergy colleagues, but the number of people made finding a colleague like finding a needle in a haystack.

The mood of the marchers was joyous. People carried unique signs; they chanted slogans that made most laugh. Many of the chanted words were ones I would never repeat in church. People offered handwarmers and food to anyone who wanted something. I did not see a police officer, but felt no need for their presence (though I’m guessing they were present). I’m glad that no ICE agents were present as the crowd might not have been so magnanimous.

When I reached the end of the march at Target Center, I decided to leave. I would have enjoyed the rally that took place there. But I didn’t have a ticket and didn’t feel like convincing anyone that I should attend the rally. So I started walking back towards my parked car. I walked at least a half mile before seeing no more people marching. 

Did we accomplish anything in the march? We demonstrated that tens of thousands of people can gather peacefully against an invading force.

And that is what ICE feels like. It feels like our state is encountering an invading force. Minnesota has been invaded! Lake Wobegon has been invaded! A year ago those two sentences would have received a laugh in a deft presentation by a comic. Today they are not a joking matter. 

If ICE was doing their job with professionalism and decency we wouldn’t be marching with such incredible numbers. The shootings of Rene Good and Alex Pretti are the worst examples of unprofessionalism and lack of decency. But every day incidents are shared in the media of ICE agents acting inappropriately and in ways that are not consistent with the Constitution. The local police would never act like ICE agents have. 

I have especially been taken in by the story of Liam Ramos. This five-year-old boy was taken away by ICE even though his parents are in the process of becoming citizens. Dueling narratives about what happened to Liam quickly appeared. I have a hard time believing the government’s narrative. Why couldn’t the ICE agents let the school officials who were present take Liam. And even if the government’s narrative is true, no reason exists for this little boy to be in a detention center right now. He poses no threat to public safety! Release him immediately!

The killing of Alex Pretti this past Saturday has magnified the injustice. Once again dueling narratives exist. I have only watched the video twice as I am a wimp when it comes to watching people be killed. I close my eyes when someone is killed at the movies, so I’m not going to watch this injustice.

What is particularly chilling is how the government has responded. They quickly labeled Alex Pretti as a terrorist. Really? A nurse who bent down to help a woman who had been pepper sprayed. A man who was shot while pinned to the ground is a threat to others. Yes, Alex Pretti had a gun, but he had been disarmed before he was shot.

What happened to decency? What happened to kindness? What happened to compassion?

I would have loved to read a press release from ICE saying that the killing of Alex Pretti was a tragedy and the thoughts and prayers of every ICE agent in Minnesota went out to his family. Instead his death has become another sorry example of government representatives acting defensively and with no heart.

I'm glad the family of Alex Pretti quicly put out a statement after he was killed.

At my core I am naively optimistic, and it does seem that this story of invasion has turned in the last 48 hours. Some Republicans are saying the invasion has gone too far. President Trump and Governor Walz actually talked on the phone today. Tom Homan, President Obama’s border czar has been sent in by the government to manage the operation. (Hopefully this means that Greg Bovino, who epitomizes heartlessness, will leave our state.) 

I believe that something is going to break soon. For the reality of the last week is untenable. No one ever thought that this type of madness would come to Lake Wobegon. Something has to change!

The death of Renee Good should never have happened

Whoever you blame for the death of Renee Good I think there is one thing upon which we can all agree. This is a tragedy that should never have happened. 

Full stop. Please reread the last sentence in the first paragraph again.

She was a 37-year old woman who left a wife and three kids.

If we cannot all grieve her passing, then it’s impossible to have healthy conversation about what happened. If we immediately jump to blame—whoever we blame for being responsible—we won’t change the narrative of violence that has literally gripped the Twin Cities metro area.

Earlier today I joined a couple hundred people, many of them clergy to protest Good’s death. We gathered on Portland Ave right where she died. The entire experience was sobering.

I’ve watched the video of Renee’s death at least ten times. It’s hard for me to say with definitive certainty whether the ICE agent who killed her was in danger of being run over the Good’s car. Full disclosure—I certainly am biased against ICE as I don’t think their presence is needed in the Twin Cities Metro. The number of ICE agents is excessive. This influences the way I look at what happened to Renee Good.

I’m not concerned about an excessive number of people in the Twin Cities who aren’t citizens. I’m more concerned about the behavior of ICE agents. When one agent approached Good’s car, he told her to “get the “Fu%$” out of the car. That use of language is hostile.  It wouldn’t be surprising if that language frightened Good and influenced her to drive quickly away.

I don’t understand why the agent who shot Good through the front window didn’t shoot at the tires of Good’s car.  I don’t understand why the agent even shot at the car. According to the Star Tribune most police departments don’t train their officers to shoot at moving cars.

The rally was peaceful. I had been asked to attend and stand with other clergy behind the speakers. So many clergy were present that I stood behind a pine tree. We were asked to wear a collar or a stole. I have a collar, but I’m actually not sure where it is, so I brought a red stole. To me red seemed to be the color of the day.

JaNae' Bates, co-executive director of Isaiah, spoke first. She shared three demands. 1. The person who killed Renee Good must be arrested; 2. ICR must leave Minnesota; 3. Congress must investigate what happened and show oversight.

Martha Bardwell from  Our Saviors Lutheran Church said that “we renounce this evil. Take off the masks. May Renee Good’s name remind everyone of the good.”

An Iman of a mosque in south Minneapolis (I didn’t get his name) said that everyone demands accountability. The family of Renee Good deserves justice. The neighborhood is not a war zone, but a neighborhood. It’s a tragedy that schools are closed because the streets are not safe. This current time is a time to show compassion and mercy.

Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm from Beth Jacob Synagogue in Mendota Heights said that what happened is so sad. She is very proud of Minnesota clergy for showing up. Preserving life takes precedence over all the laws in the Torah. Renee Good should be tucking her children into bed. Officers are called to protect people and not harm them.

B Chavez Russell, senior pastor of Greater Missionary Baptist Church said that the church recognizes that we must come together to unite people for justice. When Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple, he did not act in rage. He responded with righteous anger. He closed by encouraging us to say in unison, “We are better together.”

Father Dale Korogi, priest of Ascension parish in north Minneapolis shared that many families who attend his parish haven’t come because they are afraid of ICE. He said that people who are hiding are good people—the best people he knows.

Regina Hassanally, a Lutheran Bishop from southeast Minnesota gave an especially powerful talk. She said that fear is the tool of the oppressor, and hope is the anecdote to fear. She claimed hope not for some day in the future but for this day. Hope is our anchor. It is a hope that shows up. We have hope not just for tomorrow but for today.

Congratulations to Isaiah for having speakers from so many faith traditions!

After the rally I found many Presbyterian pastors. We took pictures and celebrated the energy of being present. 

My hope is this event can be a catalyst for justice as a respond to the killing of Renee Good. I also hope that it might change the trajectory of the presence of ICE in Minnesota.

The entire rally can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/ISAIAHMN/videos/866843849537634

Whoever you blame for the death of Renee Good I think there is one thing upon which we can all agree. This is a tragedy that should never have happened.