Dolores Huerta dies at 96 after leading farm worker union

Dolores Huerta died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at age 96, according to a statement released by her family. The union organizer and civil rights leader was born in New Mexico and became a central figure in the American labor movement.

Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers in the 1960s. She led collective bargaining negotiations against large agricultural producers and advocated for restrictions on hazardous chemicals in crops. Her work helped establish protections for farm workers across the country.

In recent months, Huerta publicly accused former UFW leader César Chávez of sexual assaults that occurred during the height of agricultural mobilizations. She said she remained silent about the incidents at the time to prevent fracturing the collective cause.

The UFW leadership stated that the best way to honor Huerta is to strengthen grassroots organizing for agricultural workers. The organization asked for privacy while the family mourns.

Former President Barack Obama awarded Huerta the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his term in office. State officials in California and Illinois also commented on her influence, noting that her advocacy shaped modern labor legislation in those states.