Dolores Huerta, labor and civil rights icon, dies at 96

Dolores Huerta died on Wednesday at age 96, ending a career that spanned more than five decades of advocacy for farmworkers, immigrants, women, and marginalized communities in the United States.

The San Diego native co-founded the farmworkers' movement alongside Cesar Chavez. Her work focused on securing fair wages, dignity, and a voice for the agricultural labor force. She is credited with popularizing the phrase "Si se puede," which became a central slogan for collective action across the country.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that the city joins the national mourning for a woman who transformed the lives of millions of workers. Gloria described Huerta as an indefatigable defender of farmworkers and one of the most consequential civil rights leaders of the era. He noted that she dedicated her life to ensuring that the people who feed the nation were treated with dignity and received just pay.

Academic leaders in San Diego also reflected on her impact. Isidro Ortiz, a professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San Diego State University, characterized Huerta as an exceptional figure in American social movements. Ortiz said she was admired and now mourned for her ferocity, humanism, and relentless pursuit of social justice. He urged that she be remembered as an activist who believed in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

At the University of San Diego, Huerta had participated in recent academic and community events. Darren Kew, dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, said the best way to honor her memory is to continue the work she championed for decades. Kew stated that if Huerta were present today, she would want the work to continue.

Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags to fly at half-staff on state buildings across California. Newsom said Huerta represented the best of the state and the nation. He noted that California and the United States would not be what they are today without her indomitable spirit and passion for justice. Newsom added that Huerta fought for gender equity, worker rights, and civil rights, opening the path for future generations.

National political figures from both the labor and civil rights movements offered tributes. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Huerta a leader who led with courage and determination. Pelosi recalled the lasting influence of the phrase "Si se puede," noting that it inspired generations of Americans to believe in the power of collective action.

Former President Joe Biden highlighted Huerta's long history of defending farmworkers and other vulnerable groups. Biden said she organized workers in the fields, marched with them during strikes, and negotiated with people who never imagined they would have to do so. Biden also referenced a controversy from this year in which Huerta alleged sexual abuse by Cesar Chavez, a revelation that shook the movement they built together. Biden said she showed a different form of bravery this year by telling a painful truth she had kept for 60 years so others would not have to carry their burdens in silence.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris described Huerta as a pioneering union leader and legendary civil rights activist. Harris said that thanks to her efforts, immigrants and workers achieved better wages, working conditions, environmental protections, and electoral rights. Martin Luther King III recalled the decades-long friendship between Huerta and his mother, Coretta Scott King. He said that relationship symbolized the convergence of the struggles for equality of African Americans and Latinos, reflecting the belief that collective strength is greater than attempts to divide.

Vigils and tributes are being organized in California and other parts of the country. Community leaders, academics, and officials agree that Huerta's death marks the end of an era, but not the end of the causes she defended. Her legacy continues in the ongoing struggles for the dignity of workers, immigrants, and historically excluded communities.