Celebrating Dolores Huerta Day
Dolores Huerta at the Latina Fest. Photo taken by Victoria Macias.
Dolores Huerta Day is a celebration that honors the life and legacy of Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist who fought for the rights of farm workers, immigrants, and women in the United States. The day is observed annually on April 10th, which is also Huerta’s birthday.
Huerta continues to be a key figure in the labor movement and co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Cesar Chavez in 1962. Together, they organized strikes, boycotts, and marches to demand better wages, working conditions, and rights for farm workers, who were often exploited and mistreated by their employers.
In addition to her work with the NFWA, Huerta was a vocal advocate for the rights of immigrants and women. She fought for gender equality, reproductive rights, and better working conditions for female farm workers. Despite facing many obstacles and challenges, Huerta remained committed to her cause throughout her life. She was arrested multiple times for her activism and faced hostility and violence from those who opposed her work.
Nevertheless, she continued to fight for justice and equality until her retirement in 2018. Huerta’s contributions to the labor and civil rights movements have earned her numerous accolades and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dolores Huerta Day is an opportunity to honor her legacy and remember the importance of fighting for social justice and equality for all.
