Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union and a pioneering labor leader, feminist, and civil rights icon, died Wednesday at her home in Bakersfield, California. She was 96. Huerta’s family announced her death in a statement shared by her foundation, confirming she passed from cancer surrounded by loved ones.
Huerta’s decades-long career included co-founding the UFW with César Chávez in 1962, where she played a central role in improving working conditions for farm laborers across the United States. She is widely credited with coining the phrase “Sí, se puede!”—Spanish for “Yes, it can be done”—which became a rallying cry for social justice movements. Her advocacy extended beyond labor rights to include women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and poverty alleviation, with her foundation continuing her work in these areas.
Legacy and Honors
Huerta received numerous accolades for her activism, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, awarded by President Barack Obama in 2012. Obama acknowledged her influence, noting that he had adopted her slogan for his 2008 presidential campaign. She was also the first Latina inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and held nine honorary doctorates from U.S. universities. Schools, streets, and murals across California, Texas, and Colorado bear her name, reflecting her enduring impact on American society.
Personal Revelations and Advocacy
In a statement released earlier this year, Huerta revealed that she had been sexually abused by César Chávez in the 1960s, a disclosure that sent shockwaves through the Latino community. She described the abuse as part of a broader pattern of violence against women in the farmworker movement, stating that she had kept the secret for 60 years out of fear it would undermine the progress made for workers. Huerta later described herself as a survivor of sexual abuse and systemic oppression, emphasizing the need for accountability within social justice movements. She noted that Chávez’s actions did not diminish the collective achievements of the UFW, which she described as a movement larger than any single individual.
Huerta’s personal life included 11 children from three marriages, including four with her longtime partner, Richard Chávez, César’s brother. She remained active in advocacy well into her 90s, participating in protests and speaking engagements across the country.
Reactions and Tributes
Leaders in labor and civil rights movements reflected on Huerta’s contributions. Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers, stated, “Her life’s work was to empower her community to face and overcome injustices, and she has left farm workers and the entire Latino community stronger and more organized than she found it.” Domingo Garcia, former national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, described Huerta as “a profile in courage” whose advocacy for justice often came at personal risk.
Huerta’s family announced plans to celebrate her life and legacy, though they requested privacy during their time of mourning. The foundation shared a statement expressing gratitude for the global outpouring of support and mourning.
Background: The United Farm Workers and Huerta’s Role
Founded in 1962 as the National Farm Workers Association, the UFW merged with another organization in 1966 to become the United Farm Workers union. The union’s efforts led to significant improvements in wages, working conditions, and labor protections for agricultural workers, many of whom were immigrants. While Chávez often received the most public recognition, Huerta’s organizing and leadership were widely acknowledged as essential to the movement’s success. Her early legislative victories included securing pensions for noncitizens and disability insurance for farmworkers during her time as a lobbyist in Sacramento.
Huerta’s advocacy also intersected with political campaigns, including her endorsement of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, a decision that drew criticism from some progressives. Actor Rosario Dawson, who portrayed Huerta in a 2014 film about Chávez, publicly disagreed with her political stance, reflecting the complex and sometimes contentious legacy of her public life.
Ongoing Impact
The UFW remains the longest-standing labor union representing agricultural workers in the United States, a testament to the enduring influence of Huerta and Chávez’s work. Huerta’s revelations about abuse within the movement have prompted discussions about accountability and the need for systemic change in how social justice organizations address gender-based violence.
Huerta’s death marks the end of an era for labor and civil rights activism, but her legacy continues through the ongoing work of her foundation and the broader movements she helped inspire.