Dolores Huerta, a major Civil Rights Leader who with Cesar Chávez helped lead the United Farm Workers (UFW) and the labor movement in California, has died at the age of 96.

UFW President Teresa Romero released the following statement: 

The United Farm Workers Union mourns the passing and celebrates the life of UFW Co-Founder Dolores Huerta.

A tireless advocate for Farm Workers, Women, Immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community and all marginalized people, Dolores was also a friend and mentor to generations of UFW Organizers, Members, volunteers and staff. 

Her life’s work was to empower her community to face and overcome injustices - and she has left Farm Workers and the entire Latino community stronger and more organized than she found it.

Her commitment to civic engagement and bringing political power to disenfranchised people is a lesson we all should carry to the ballot box.

Dolores coined the United Farm Workers’ historic motto: Sí, Se Puede.

Her advocacy helped bring an end to the exploitative Bracero program in the early 1960s.

Later, she helped negotiate the 1986 Immigration Reform Act, which supported millions of naturalized American Citizens who went on to make limitless contributions to this country. 

Closest to our hearts, she helped found and lead the first and largest lasting Farm Workers’ Union in American History.

Working with thousands of Farm Workers and their supporters, she helped bring the first successful Union recognition and Union contracts for Agricultural Workers, establishing the United Farm Workers.

That Union, our Union, represents thousands of Farm Workers in California, Oregon, Washington, and New York, raising wages, empowering Workers and improving lives every day the way only a Union contract can. 

Dolores’ work remains as important now as ever and it continues with her example and her inspiration before us.

The greatest possible tribute to her life is for her work of organizing to continue. 

Our greatest monument to her memory is for the Union she helped found to continue to grow.

Dolores fought for Farm Workers to the very end of her life.

The Union she helped found will always continue that work.

We know that wherever Farm Workers gather to organize, we can count on her presence. 

¡Que Viva Dolores Huerta!

¡Sí Se Puede!

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UFW Photo.