Labor rights icon Dolores Huerta dies at 96

Dolores Huerta, a prominent labor rights leader and civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez, died at 96 years old on October 28, 2026. Her family announced her passing in a statement posted to social media. Huerta was known for championing farm workers' rights through strikes, boycotts, and protests during the 1960s and '70s. She coined the slogan "Sí, se puede" (Yes, we can), which later became an influential rallying cry for change in American politics. The news has sparked tributes from activists, lawmakers, and civil rights leaders across California and beyond, recognizing her enduring impact on labor and social justice movements.