Dolores Huerta dies at 96, ending an era in American labor history
The co-founder of the United Farm Workers and a lifelong advocate for farmworkers has died, according to her family.
By Ethan Cook ·
Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America and a central figure in the fight for farmworker rights, has died. She was 96. Her family confirmed the news via an Instagram post on Wednesday morning.
Huerta spent decades organizing poor farmworkers, often working alongside her co-founder, Cesar Chavez. Her family noted that she continued to campaign for working people well past standard retirement age. She is described as the emotional compass of the UFW for many years.
The union was founded in 1962 in Delano, California. Huerta played a key role in its early days, recruiting members and helping negotiate one of the first labor contracts for farmworkers in North America. In 1966, she helped secure an agreement with Schenley Wine Co., which the union history marks as the first labor contract obtained by farmworkers directly with an agricultural company.
In March 2026, Huerta spoke publicly about her relationship with Chavez. She stated that he had twice forced sex on her, resulting in two pregnancies. She said she remained silent for six decades to protect the farmworker movement. "I now understand that I am a survivor, of violence, of sexual abuse, of domineering men who saw me, and other women, as property, or things to control," she told the New York Times.
The pair met through the Community Service Organization, a progressive group focused on equal rights. In 1961, Chavez called Huerta to his home in East Los Angeles and told her, "We have got to start the union. If we don’t do it, nobody else will," Huerta recalled. They moved their families to Kern County to begin organizing in the fields.
Huerta’s work extended beyond the union. She supported women’s rights, Democratic politics, and community organizing. Her foundation, the Dolores C. Huerta Foundation, supported projects including a performing arts camp and food distribution. In 2025, the organization broke ground on the Dolores Huerta Peace & Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield. The $35 million project, funded largely by the state of California, will include an academy for community organizers.
Eliseo Medina, a 19-year-old grape picker recruited by Huerta in the union’s early days, said she had a gift for making people believe in themselves. "She has an ability to inspire you and urge you to do things you could not think were possible. She is one of those life-changers," Medina said.
Huerta’s legacy is tied to the phrase "Si, se puede," which she helped turn into a rallying cry. She remained active in public life until her death, using her foundation to register voters and campaign for progressive causes. Her daughter, Camila Chavez, leads the foundation, while her son, Emilio Huerta, provides legal advice.
