Labor Icon Dolores Huerta Dies at 96; Celebrities and Politicians Mourn

Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers, has died. She was 96 years old. Her family announced that she passed away at her home in Bakersfield, California, on Wednesday morning. Huerta spent decades organizing migrant laborers and fighting for civil rights, leaving behind a legacy that spans from the fields of the Central Valley to the national political stage.

Huerta’s career began in the 1930s and 1940s as a schoolteacher in California’s Central Valley. She left the classroom after observing that many of her students, who were children of migrant farmworkers, arrived at school tired, hungry, and barefoot. In 1962, she partnered with Cesar Chavez to establish one of the nation's oldest farmworker unions. The organization focused on securing better wages, improved working conditions, and dignity for field laborers through marches, protests, and campaigns.

News of her death prompted immediate responses from prominent figures in entertainment and politics. Actor Eva Longoria described Huerta as a mentor and teacher. Longoria noted that Huerta dedicated her life to lifting up silenced voices. "There will be an enormous void without her," Longoria wrote on social media. "But the extraordinary thing about Dolores is that her life’s work lives on in every person she inspired."

Actress America Ferrera celebrated Huerta’s 96 years of life and her commitment to social justice. Ferrera emphasized that Huerta continued to fight with love and dance with joy until the end. "May we carry her legacy in our actions and to the polls!" Ferrera stated, adding that Huerta would demand no less of the public. Actor Danny Trejo also paid tribute, noting that Huerta’s work touched countless lives, including his own. "We will miss you Dolores," Trejo posted. "We will never forget all you have done."

Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, reflected on Huerta’s advocacy for the people who grow and harvest food. Andrés stated he would honor her legacy by continuing to fight for a world where food producers can feed themselves with dignity. He invoked Huerta’s famous rallying cry, "Si, se puede," reminding followers that together, yes, they can. The Mexican band Los Tigres del Norte expressed deep regret on Instagram, calling Huerta an exemplary woman and tireless advocate for workers' rights and the Latino community.

California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in the state to honor the labor leader. The directive recognizes Huerta’s decades of activism, which helped transform the farmworker movement. The governor’s office cited her role in inspiring generations to fight for social justice.

Huerta’s death marks the end of an era for the labor movement she helped build. Her family confirmed the details of her passing, and tributes continue to accumulate from across the country. The United Farm Workers, which she co-founded in 1962, remains a central institution in the history of American labor.