Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of UFW, Dies at 96 in Bakersfield

Dolores Huerta, the labor organizer and civil rights advocate who co-founded the United Farm Workers, died Wednesday at her home in Bakersfield, California.

Her family confirmed the death on Instagram, stating they were deeply saddened by the loss. The New York Times reported that she died of cancer. Huerta was 96.

Born in Dawson, New Mexico, in 1930, Huerta moved to Stockton, California, with her mother and brothers. While teaching elementary school, she observed the difficult living conditions of farmworker families. She began volunteering with the Community Service Organization, where she met Cesar Chavez.

In 1962, Huerta and Chavez established the National Farm Workers Association. The group organized the 1965 Delano grape strike. From March 17 to April 10, 1966, roughly 300 miles of marching took place from Delano to Sacramento. The march involved Mexican American and Filipino workers, students, clergy, and union organizers.

The march concluded with the group securing its first union contract. Supporters viewed the win as the start of La Causa. The campaign also drove a worldwide boycott that improved working conditions, including access to clean water, rest periods, and union representation. Huerta was arrested 22 times during nonviolent protests.

In 2026, Huerta publicly revealed that Chavez had raped her decades earlier. She was one of several women to accuse the late leader of sexual abuse, with some alleging the assaults occurred when they were underage. Chavez died in 1993. Huerta told the New York Times that she remained silent for years because she did not want to hurt the movement.

Huerta continued her advocacy work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation in Bakersfield. Her efforts focused heavily on immigration reform, a key issue for farmworkers in California's Central Valley. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. In April 2025, Los Angeles County proclaimed a day in her honor on her 95th birthday.

Family spokesperson Erik Olvera said relatives were focusing on supporting one another. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued a statement praising Huerta as a dear friend. Pelosi said Huerta's rallying cry, 'Sí se puede,' inspired generations of Americans to believe in collective action.