New Mexico leaders remember Dolores Huerta

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Leaders in New Mexico are remembering Dolores Huerta as a “force of nature” and “giant” with a legacy transcending generations after she passed away Wednesday.

Huerta died at age 96, her family confirmed on social media. The iconic leader of the 1960s labor movement was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico.

MORE: Dolores Huerta, New Mexico-born civil rights icon, dead at age 96

In 2023, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a law that dedicates April 10 of every year as “Dolores Huerta Day” in New Mexico. The governor said Wednesday she signed that bill into law so “every generation would know her name.”

“Dolores was a force of nature. She gave farm workers a voice and she gave all of us ‘Sí, se puede.’ I was lucky to call her a friend and I’ll never forget the day she came to our office to accept the state’s thanks for her extraordinary service,” the governor recalled. “Well into her nineties, she spoke hard truths regardless of the personal costs. She showed up for people who were at risk, taken advantage of, underserved and unheard until the day she died… Rest in power, Dolores.”

Huerta made appearances at events nationwide and around the world, including in New Mexico. Not long before the dedication of Dolores Huerta Day in 2023, she appeared at an annual celebration in her honor at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. She spoke on issues of the time and appeared with U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez that day.

Leger Fernandez remembered Huerta as “a giant” who left a lasting impact She recalled how Huerta told her, “You should dance in your 20s so you can march in your 90s.” She added that Huerta marched for justice, dignity and people “too often ignored.”

“She taught us that the fight for a better world should be filled with joy, that resistance can be a celebration and that the rhythm of change lives in all of us. Today, we mourn a giant. But her footsteps will echo in every march, her spirit will live in every movement and her words will carry us forward. Remember: who has the power? The people have the power. Siempre,” Leger Fernandez stated Wednesday.

Speaking to her transcendent legacy, the two major party candidates vying to succeed Lujan Grisham as governor also issued statements on Huerta’s passing. Here are their statements, in alphabetical order:

Deb Haaland

“True servants of humanity give selflessly to make the world better for generations to come – Dolores Huerta was a true servant of the people. Her long life fighting for workers and civil rights put dignity and respect at the forefront of our long march toward justice. She inspired generations who came after her with both words and actions, showing us all that we have the power to change the future. Dolores Huerta leaves a mark on this world and on me that will never be forgotten or erased. She taught us all that in the face of injustice, if we stand together, Sí, se puede. This is a heartbreaking loss to humanity and I send my deepest condolences to Dolores’ family, loved ones, friends, fellow luchadores and anyone who is feeling devastated by this loss. Rest in power, Dolores.” 

Gregg Hull

“New Mexico has lost one of its own. Dolores Huerta was born in Dawson and while her work carried her across the country, she never stopped being a daughter of this state. To generations of New Mexicans, she was an icon, a woman who spent her life standing up for hardworking families and showed what one determined person can accomplish. Few New Mexicans have left a mark on our nation like she did. My prayers are with her family and with everyone whose life she touched.”

Here are statements from other leaders in New Mexico:

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller

“For many of us, we lost a friend today and our country lost one of its fiercest voices for dignity, justice and the power of people standing together. Dolores Huerta spent her life refusing to accept that hardship or injustice were simply the way things had to be and she never lost her determination or belief that change was possible. For Albuquerque, Dolores was never just a figure from the history books; she kept coming back to her home state to stand with workers, families and advocates in our community.

Liz and I are fortunate to know her as a friend and to march beside her. Her ability to bring people together was unforgettable. She showed generations of us that what seems unachievable can become achievable when people stand together and lift each other up. Not long ago, a few thousand Burqueños gathered to wish her a happy birthday at Civic Plaza and we could all feel her grace and power in that moment. It was something special. Now it’s something we will remember forever.

Dolores will be deeply missed but her spirit lives on in the words she gave us: ¡Sí, se puede!”

National Hispanic Cultural Center

“Dolores Huerta was part of the life of this Center for many years. She marched alongside our community, joined us for programs and conversations, and filled our spaces with an energy that people of every age could feel. Most recently, we were proud to share Opera Southwest’s opera based on her life. It was a powerful reminder that her journey has become part of our shared cultural story, told through music, art, and performance.

“Our mission is to preserve and celebrate Hispanic culture, and Dolores showed us that culture is something alive. It lives in the way a community organizes, in the songs it sings at a picket line, and in the stories grandparents pass down. Her life will continue to inspire the artists, students, and families who gather here. Her roots in New Mexico make that legacy especially meaningful to us.

“We extend our deepest condolences to her children, her extended family, and all who loved and worked beside her. The National Hispanic Cultural Center will continue to honor her memory through the stories we tell and the people we serve. Que descanse en paz, Dolores.”

-Elena Baca, Education Program Manager, National Hispanic Cultural Center

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Statements on Huerta

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury

“Absolutely devastated to learn of the passing of New Mexico’s own, Dolores Huerta. 

A friend. A mentor. A real life super hero. Dolores helped organize a movement that changed our country. From farmworkers to working families, women and communities whose voices were often ignored, Dolores was a force and voice for change. A woman who didn’t back down and who spoke truth to power.

Dolores, you will be so missed. But your legacy will live on in the continued fight for justice! ¡Sí, se puede!”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez

“Today, the world lost a legend with the passing of Dolores Huerta.

Born in New Mexico, Huerta went on to become one of the most formidable champions for civil rights and workers’ rights our country has ever seen. She gave voice to women, Latinos and working-class people at a time when too many were silenced and denied a seat at the table — and America is better for her fight.

May we always remember her for her bravery, vision and leadership and may we never forget the power of the people she fought so hard to protect. Sí, se puede.”

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan

Dolores Huerta was a bright, shining beacon in the darkness. She led countless people in the fight for better wages, safer working conditions and a seat at the table.

Dolores was a voice for those whose voices had long gone unheard. I am praying for her family and everyone who was inspired by this incredible leader.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

“Today New Mexico lost one of our own and America lost a giant.

Dolores Huerta spent her life fighting for farmworkers, working families and anyone who was ever told that their voice didn’t count.

She gave a movement its rallying cry with ‘Sí, se puede’ but it was always more than a slogan to her. It was a belief in the power of organizing. And today, because of her, countless workers have a safer workplace and a fairer wage.

Her legacy will live on in the organizers she trained, the laws she helped pass and all of us continuing her work.

Julie and I have her family in our hearts, along with everyone in the movement she built.”

The post New Mexico leaders remember Dolores Huerta appeared first on KOB 4.