Dolores Huerta, a prominent civil rights leader who helped establish the United Farm Workers union and coined the rallying cry “¡Sí, se puede!” (Yes, we can), passed away on Wednesday at age 96. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from activists, lawmakers, and civil rights figures across the United States.
Huerta’s organizing work centered largely in California’s Central Valley, where she played a key role in founding the UFW and coordinating the 1965 Delano grape strike, a national boycott that secured improved wages and working conditions for grape pickers. Her impact on the state became deeply embedded in its civic life, with several California schools bearing her name, murals depicting her throughout the state, and California establishing Dolores Huerta Day on 10 April, her birthday. Her influence extended nationally and internationally, with her portrait displayed in some U.S. embassies and schools across multiple states named in her honor.
Political figures from California issued statements recognizing her legacy. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called her “a dear friend,” while Governor Gavin Newsom stated that “California – and the United States – would not be what we are today without her resolute spirit.” Former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla similarly emphasized their commitment to continuing her work on behalf of workers and immigrant communities. Lawmakers across the country, including New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighted her role in advancing the rights of working people, women, and immigrants.
Former officials credited Huerta with mentoring the next generation of leaders. Hilda Solis, who served as labor secretary in Barack Obama’s administration and became the first Latina cabinet member, described Huerta as “a constant” in her life and a model of what was possible for Latina women in leadership. State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes noted that Huerta taught people that “ordinary people, working together, could challenge powerful institutions, overcome injustice, and build something better.”
Huerta worked alongside UFW co-founder César Chávez for decades, though she later spoke about experiencing sexism within the movement and being forced to cede credit to Chávez. Earlier in the year, following a New York Times investigation into Chávez’s pattern of sexual abuse, Huerta disclosed that she too had been raped by Chávez, explaining that she had remained silent to protect the farmworker movement she dedicated her life to advancing.
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