Dolores Huerta, the pioneering American labour organiser and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers, has died at the age of 96, her family announced on Wednesday.
Huerta’s family confirmed her death in a statement shared on her official Instagram account.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96,” the family said.
Huerta was widely recognised for her decades of work defending farmworkers and fighting for better working conditions, particularly for Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States.
She helped organise major strikes and boycotts, becoming one of the most influential figures in the American labour and civil rights movements.
Huerta also coined the famous slogan “Sí, se puede,” meaning “Yes, we can,” which became a powerful rallying cry for activists and campaigners.
Beyond labour organising, she played an important role in American politics, supporting candidates and advocating for greater political representation and equality.
