Dolores Huerta, the longtime labor organizer and political activist who helped establish the United Farm Workers alongside Cesar Chavez, died Wednesday at age 96, leaving a decades-long legacy of union organizing, civil rights advocacy and progressive political activism.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Dolores Huerta, the influential labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers and became a prominent advocate for progressive political causes, died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at her home in California. She was 96.
Her family confirmed her death in a statement released through the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the organization she established to promote community organizing, education and political participation.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96,” the family said.
The family requested privacy and said plans to commemorate her life would be announced later. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Huerta was among the most recognizable figures in the American labor movement, helping organize agricultural workers during the 1960s and advocating for higher wages, improved working conditions and collective bargaining rights.
Born April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico, she grew up in California’s San Joaquin Valley after her parents divorced. Her mother, Alicia, operated a business and encouraged her involvement in community affairs.
Huerta initially worked as a schoolteacher but became increasingly concerned about poverty among the children she taught. She eventually left teaching to pursue labor and community organizing.
In 1962, Huerta joined Chavez in establishing the National Farm Workers Association, which later became part of the United Farm Workers.
Their organizing efforts included strikes, nationwide boycotts and negotiations with major agricultural producers.
The movement gained national attention during the Delano grape strike, which began in 1965 and developed into a broader campaign demanding improved wages and workplace protections for farmworkers.
Huerta played a significant role in negotiations with growers and helped secure labor agreements that expanded protections for agricultural employees.
She also became associated with the Spanish-language rallying cry “Sí, se puede,” meaning “Yes, it can be done,” which later became a widely recognized slogan in American political activism.
Beyond agricultural labor organizing, Huerta supported feminist causes, immigration reform, voting rights and expanded government programs intended to address poverty and economic inequality.
Her political activism frequently aligned with progressive Democrats and labor organizations. She remained an outspoken advocate for wealth redistribution and greater government involvement in protecting workers and disadvantaged communities.
Even after leaving day-to-day leadership of the United Farm Workers, Huerta continued participating in demonstrations, voter registration efforts and political campaigns.
Through her Bakersfield-based foundation, she supported community education, leadership development and initiatives intended to increase civic participation among traditionally underrepresented populations.
In 2025, an organization associated with her foundation broke ground on the Dolores Huerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield. The planned $35 million facility was designed to provide educational resources and training for future community organizers, with substantial funding from California taxpayers.
Huerta remained politically active into her 90s, appearing at rallies and public events supporting Democratic candidates and progressive policies.
Her career also drew renewed attention in 2026 when she publicly alleged that Chavez had sexually assaulted her during their years working together. The disclosures complicated the historical assessment of the labor movement’s leadership and highlighted allegations of misconduct within organizations associated with prominent civil rights figures.
Despite controversies surrounding the movement, Huerta’s contributions to organized labor and political activism received national recognition over several decades.
Her work helped establish collective bargaining as an important issue for agricultural workers, who had historically faced limited employment protections and significant obstacles to union representation.
Huerta was also recognized for her role in expanding women’s participation in labor leadership at a time when major unions were predominantly led by men.
She is survived by her 13 children.
Her death closes a career spanning more than six decades of labor organizing and political activism, during which she helped transform the farmworker movement into a national force and remained a prominent voice for progressive causes well into her final years.
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