California: Dolores Huerta, a prominent civil rights campaigner and labour leader who dedicated decades to improving the lives of farmworkers, has died at the age of 96. Her family announced her death on Wednesday and requested privacy as they mourned her loss.
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Huerta co-founded the organisation that later became the United Farm Workers union alongside César Chávez.
Their movement fought for better wages, healthcare benefits, pensions and safer working conditions for agricultural workers. The Mexican National Farmworkers Association, which they helped establish, evolved into the United Farm Workers union in 1966.
Following the announcement, tributes poured in from leaders across California. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis remembered Huerta as a mentor and a pioneering figure who helped open doors for Latinas in public service.
Earlier this year, Huerta accused Chávez of sexually abusing her over several years and alleged that he had fathered two of her children. These allegations added a significant dimension to the legacy of the two figures who played major roles in the farmworkers’ rights movement.
Huerta’s family said further details about plans to honour her life and contributions would be shared later.
