# Labor Leader and Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta Dies at 96 The co-founder of the United Farm Workers leaves behind a complex legacy of advocacy. - **Source:** [TIME](https://time.com/) - **Published:** 2026-10-28 - **Topic:** [Leadership](https://brifing.si/c/leadership) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/25277f44-e6a8-488f-b090-12e767c2059d ## Passing of a Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta, the celebrated labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, passed away at age 96 in Bakersfield, California. Her foundation confirmed she died at home surrounded by family. While an official cause was not released, reports indicate cancer was the underlying factor in her recent passing. ## Founding the United Farm Workers In 1962, Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union alongside Cesar Chavez. She served as the organization's vice president for nearly four decades, working closely with Chavez until his death in 1993. Her leadership was instrumental in securing better pay and essential labor rights for thousands of migrant agricultural workers. ## Legislative and Social Victories Huerta was one of the few female lobbyists of her era, securing critical legislative wins. Her achievements included enabling Spanish-language driver’s license examinations and extending aid to farmworker families. She also successfully fought for disability insurance protections for agricultural laborers, significantly improving the living standards for those she represented throughout. ## The Sí, se puede Legacy Huerta is credited with coining the iconic rallying cry, 'Sí, se puede,' which translates to 'Yes, we can.' This phrase became a global symbol of empowerment, famously adopted by former President Barack Obama. In 2012, Obama presented Huerta with the Presidential Medal of Freedom to honor her lifelong commitment to advocacy. ## Allegations Against Cesar Chavez Earlier this year, Huerta broke her long-standing silence regarding Cesar Chavez. She accused him of sexually abusing her during the 1960s, resulting in two pregnancies. Huerta stated she kept these events secret for decades to protect the labor movement's progress, fearing that disclosure would compromise her life’s work for laborers. ## Motivation for Speaking Out Huerta decided to share her experiences following a New York Times investigation that revealed allegations of sexual abuse by Chavez against multiple women. She explained that her primary focus had been securing rights for millions of farmworkers, and she refused to let any individual, including Chavez, obstruct that vital mission. ## Recognition and Final Tributes In April, TIME magazine named Huerta to its list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2026. Her long-time friend, activist Gloria Steinem, wrote a tribute praising Huerta’s courage. Steinem emphasized that Huerta’s impact continues to guide activists, regardless of the harmful behavior displayed by other leaders within the movement. ## Reflecting on a Complex Legacy Huerta’s life serves as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and the necessity of holding leaders accountable. Her career demonstrates the tension between personal sacrifice and collective progress. As the public processes her passing, her contributions to labor rights remain a foundational element of American civil rights history. ## Sources covering this story - https://time.com/article/2026/10/28/dolores-huerta-labor-leader-and-civil-rights-icon-dies-at-96/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._