Women in Labor History:

Dolores Huerta

Labor leader. Feminist. Activist.

¡Sí Se Puede!

As a sophomore at San Fernando High School in 1995, ASK ESP member Angie Gonzales was one of few who knew how important the guest speaker was. “Everyone knows Caesar Chavez, what he’s done for the labor movement, but no one knows Dolores Huerta!”

Dolores Huerta is a labor rights activist, who fought along side César Chavez and Gilbert Padilla to create the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to create the United Farm Worker(UFW). She helped organize the 1965 grape strike and negotiated with the grape companies to end it. Dolores is a tireless advocate for women’s rights, human rights and civil rights. In 1987 she founded the Feminist Majority Foundation, to help promote Latina activism and visibility in political spaces.

It’s this piece that has stuck with Angie Gonzales in her adult life, “ I found a sense of pride listening to her speak. Not only is she a Latina- she’s Mexican! Mexican women are taught to be quiet and docile but she’s here speaking- she’s fought for our rights, she’s been arrested fighting for our rights. She’s a big reason why I am active and why I have my kids with me when we rally.”

At age 94 Dolores Huerta continues her fierce advocacy, fighting for the rights of all people. In times when we feel like women can’t be leaders, can’t be loud, can’t make change, we remember Dolores Huerta’s famous words-

Sí Se Puede- yes we can!

ASK ESP