Dolores Huerta dies at 96, leaving behind a labor legacy and personal revelations

Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, died of cancer on Wednesday at the age of 96. Her passing marks the end of a career that spanned nearly six decades, during which she became a central figure in American labor and civil rights movements.

Huerta’s influence extended beyond contract negotiations and wage fights. She acted as a mentor to young people and a public advocate for Latino communities. At a conference for Latino high school students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the early 2010s, she addressed the crowd without a lengthy preamble. She urged the students to improve themselves, arguing that such individual effort drives community progress. The session concluded with the group chanting, "Sí se puede," a phrase she popularized.

Her approachability distinguished her from other public figures. She frequently attended art gallery openings and film screenings to support emerging artists. During the pandemic, she joined a virtual fundraiser for a Chicano art museum hosted by actor Cheech Marín and cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz. Huerta’s calendar remained full until recently, a commitment that contrasted with the high fees often requested by other prominent speakers.

In a statement to The New York Times earlier this year, Huerta disclosed that Cesar Chavez, her co-founder and partner in the farmworker movement, had raped her in the 1960s and fathered two of her children. She said she kept the abuse private for decades to avoid damaging the momentum of their shared activism. The revelation prompted widespread mourning and reflection on the personal costs of her public service.

Huerta’s political alliances occasionally drew criticism from progressive Latino activists. She faced scrutiny for supporting establishment Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. In 2016, actor Rosario Dawson criticized Huerta for endorsing Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders, labeling her an instrument of the establishment. Huerta maintained her support for these figures despite the pushback from within her own community.

Her relationship with other activists was not without tension. In later years, she engaged in a phone dispute with a journalist regarding Chavez’s stance on illegal immigrants. Huerta defended Chavez’s position, arguing that his views were consistent with their shared goals. She noted that UFW recordings showed her challenging the derogatory language Chavez used, but she maintained that his opposition to critics was part of a personal vendetta.

Huerta’s nonprofit organization is based in Bakersfield, California. She continued to work in her final years, engaging with community groups and college students. Her death closes a chapter in the history of American labor, leaving behind a record of organizing, mentorship, and public advocacy that defined her life's work.