By Basant El-Faramawy
Dolores Huerta, the pioneering labor rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, died Wednesday at 96 from cancer at her home in Bakersfield, California, surrounded by family.
Decades of organizing for farmworkers
Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez in 1962, which became the United Farm Workers of America. The movement secured better wages, fair hours, and access to bathrooms for agricultural workers. Her work earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.
Activism into her 90s
Unlike many who retire, Huerta remained active well into her 90s, marching with protesters, speaking on panels, and endorsing candidates. She advocated not only for Latinos but also for African Americans, the LGBTQ+ community, and women.
Feminist leadership and police assault
As the only woman in the room during the 1960s farmworkers movement, Huerta faced sexism but demanded change. In 1988, she was beaten by a police officer while protesting outside a George H.W. Bush event in San Francisco, suffering broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. The $825,000 settlement and her hospital experience spurred deeper involvement in the feminist movement.
Impact on younger generations
Students and colleagues described Huerta as accessible and transformative. Ana Padilla, director of the Community and Labor Center at UC Merced, said Huerta's visit to the campus left students in tears. Anabelle Sanchez, a Michigan State University student, called her a model of strength and courage.
Rejecting personal honors after Chavez revelations
After revealing in March that she was among women sexually abused by Chavez, Huerta declined proposals to rename streets and schools in her honor, suggesting instead that such places honor UFW martyrs, organizers, and farmworker families. She also lobbied state lawmakers to fund the labor center at UC Merced, which opened in 2020.
