Key Takeaways
- Dolores Huerta, the civil rights icon who co-founded the organization that became the United Farm Workers and popularized “Sí, se puede,” has died at 96.
- Huerta helped lead the Delano grape strike, won better wages and protections for farmworkers, and later expanded her advocacy through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
- In her final year, Huerta accused longtime collaborator Cesar Chavez of sexually assaulting her decades earlier, contributing to California’s decision to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day.
Dolores Huerta, the legendary civil rights activist who helped build the United Farm Workers movement alongside Cesar Chavez before publicly accusing him of sexual assault decades later, has died at 96.
Huerta's family confirmed her death on Wednesday, October 28, bringing an end to a remarkable life spent fighting for farmworkers, women's rights, and Latino communities across the United States.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today," her family said in a statement, per CNN. "As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family."
Born Dolores Clara Fernández on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta grew up in California, where her mother's involvement in the agricultural community helped shape her activism. She initially worked as a teacher but left the profession after witnessing the poverty her students faced.
"I couldn't tolerate seeing kids come to class hungry and needing shoes," Huerta once explained. "I thought I could do more by organizing farm workers than by trying to teach their hungry children."
That decision helped change American labor history.
In 1962, Huerta joined Chavez and Gilbert Padilla in establishing the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers. She became a driving force behind the Delano grape strike, organizing nationwide boycotts and negotiating contracts that secured higher wages, improved working conditions, and protections against dangerous pesticides.
Huerta also helped popularize the rallying cry "Sí, se puede," which became synonymous with the labor movement and later appeared in national political campaigns.
Her accomplishments earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, and California established Dolores Huerta Day to recognize her contributions.
However, her final year brought renewed attention to her complicated relationship with Chavez.
In March, Huerta told The New York Times that Chavez allegedly raped her in a secluded California grape field in 1966. She also accused him of pressuring her into sex during a work trip in 1960.
Huerta said she remained silent for decades because she feared authorities would use the allegations against the farmworkers' movement and doubted her colleagues would believe her.
"I have never identified myself as a victim, but I now understand that I am a survivor," she said in a March statement, describing her experiences with sexual abuse and controlling men.
The allegations emerged alongside other accusations involving Chavez and young women or minors, prompting the UFW to withdraw from Cesar Chavez Day celebrations earlier this year.
The fallout extended well beyond the union. On March 26, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation officially renaming Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day, stripping Chavez's name from the March 31 state holiday following the sexual abuse allegations.
Meanwhile, Tucson, Arizona, renamed its local observance Dolores Huerta Day. California also continued recognizing Huerta on April 10, her birthday, with Newsom issuing a proclamation honoring her contributions to civil rights and organized labor.
Despite the controversy surrounding her former colleague, Huerta's work extended far beyond their partnership. She established the Dolores Huerta Foundation in 2002, continuing her advocacy for education, political participation, and marginalized communities.
Her family said memorial arrangements will be announced later.
"We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning," the family added, promising plans to celebrate her life and legacy.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. Contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) through its free, confidential National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), text HOPE to 64673, or visit RAINN.org/hotline to chat with a trained support specialist. Services are available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
