World · India Bureau
Dolores Huerta, Icon of US Farmworker Rights, Dies at 96
Dolores Huerta, the pioneering labour activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers union and became a defining voice for migrant workers' rights, has died at the age of 96. Her decades-long struggle for farmworkers, women and civil rights left an indelible mark on American labour movements.
LSN India ·
Huerta's death marks the end of an era for one of the United States' most influential civil rights leaders. As co-founder of the United Farm Workers union alongside César Chávez, she became instrumental in transforming the conditions faced by America's agricultural workforce, many of whom worked in conditions marked by exploitation and poverty.
Beyond her organisational achievements, Huerta became synonymous with the rallying cry "Sí, se puede!"—"Yes, we can!"—a phrase that galvanised farmworkers and later resonated across broader civil rights movements. Her leadership extended far beyond labour issues, as she championed women's rights and broader social justice causes throughout her career.
Huerta's activism spanned multiple decades, during which she confronted powerful agricultural and corporate interests to secure better wages, working conditions and benefits for farmworkers. Her work helped establish precedents for labour rights that continue to influence discussions around worker protections and social equity in the United States.
Her legacy extends beyond the immediate victories won during her lifetime. Huerta's life and work have inspired subsequent generations of activists and remain a touchstone in contemporary conversations about labour rights, immigrant welfare and social justice across North America.
Photo: Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, May 2016. Tom Hilton via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).