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

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dolores Huerta, the New Mexico-born icon of the 1960s labor movement with an enduring legacy defined by the phrase, “Si, se puede,” has died. He was 96.

Huerta’s family confirmed her passing Wednesday on her verified Facebook and Instagram pages.

“This is an incredibly difficult time for us and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family. We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy,” the post stated.

Huerta was born April 10, 1930, in the small Colfax County mining ghost town of Dawson. She later moved to California where her legacy was shaped. However, she reappeared in Albuquerque at annual celebrations in honor of her and Cesar Chavez. She also made appearances in other social movements and protests, even into her 90s.

The legacy of the movement has evolved over the years. Just in March, Huerta came out with allegations that Chavez sexually abused her. That has led to an ongoing process of renaming place names with Chavez’s name, including in Albuquerque.

Huerta’s legacy has sustained. When Barack Obama was president, he honored her with Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Avenida Dolores Huerta is also named after her in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque is home to many place names in Huerta’s namesake, including Avenida Dolores Huerta and Dolores Huerta Gateway Park. The city hosted a gathering in honor of her Wednesday in Old Town Plaza, where they set up an ofrenda in her honor.

New Mexico leaders were set to appear at the gathering, including Mayor Tim Keller. Keller and other leaders, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, issued statements on her passing:

MORE: New Mexico leaders remember Dolores Huerta

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