Dolores Huerta, Labor Leader and Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 96

Dolores Huerta, a revered labor leader and civil rights icon, has passed away at the age of 96. She co-founded the United Farm Workers union, which aimed to improve the pay and working conditions of farm laborers. Huerta popularized the phrase "Sí, se puede" ("Yes, we can") during her advocacy efforts in the 1960s and 70s. Her dedication to social justice was inspired by her mother's words: if she saw people in need, she had an obligation to help them.

Huerta's achievements include securing driver's license examinations in Spanish, expanding Aid to Families with Dependent Children to cover farmworker families, and championing disability insurance protections for agricultural workers. Originally founded in 1962 alongside Cesar Chavez, Huerta served as vice president for nearly four decades.

In recent years, she made headlines by publicly accusing Chavez of sexually abusing her during their years together in the labor movement. This came after the New York Times published allegations of Chavez's misconduct against multiple individuals, including Huerta. Despite the controversy, Huerta maintained her commitment to her cause, stating that she would not let anyone obstruct her efforts to secure rights for millions of workers.