Dolores Huerta, the pioneering labor organizer and civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s, has died at the age of 96, her family announced in a statement on Wednesday.
“With deep sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, today,” the statement read.
Dolores Clara Fernández was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. After her parents separated, she was raised alongside her siblings by her mother, Alicia, a businesswoman and active member of her agricultural community.
Huerta devoted much of her life to improving farmworkers’ working conditions and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. However, her contributions to the farmworkers’ movement remained overshadowed by those of Cesar Chavez for many years.
Earlier this year, Huerta told The New York Times that Chavez had raped her in 1966, during the height of a boycott campaign led by the United Farm Workers. According to her account, Chavez drove her to a secluded grape field in Delano, California, and sexually assaulted her.
Huerta told the newspaper that she did not report the alleged assault, nor a previous incident in 1960 in which she said Chavez had pressured her into having sex during a business trip. She cited the police’s stance toward their movement and her fear that no one within their union would believe her.
The family said arrangements for the memorial service would be announced at a later date.
“As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for us, and we request privacy as we grieve this immense loss to our family. We know that many around the world share our sorrow, and we will announce plans later to honor and celebrate her life and her extraordinary legacy,” the statement continued.
