Honoring Dolores Huerta: A Legacy of Organizing and Advocacy

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) and a fierce advocate for farmworkers’ rights, passed away in 2026. Her journey began decades earlier, when she helped to mobilize agricultural laborers and push for critical worker protections. During the 1970s, after returning from a solidarity trip in Cuba, I had the fortune of meeting her in New York City, where she graciously helped me find a place to stay and inspired me in my work as a UFW organizer.

Throughout my years, I witnessed Huerta’s unwavering dedication, particularly in union negotiations where she stood strong against powerful growers, empowering workers. Iconic figures like María Elena Durazo praised her as an outstanding educator in the struggle against poverty and injustice. Huerta’s lifelong engagement, from marching for immigrant rights to confronting anti-immigrant initiatives, illustrated her complex relationship with political systems while continually championing workers’ rights.