Labor leader Dolores Huerta dies at 96

Dolores Huerta, a pioneering labor organizer and civil rights leader, died on October 28, 2026, at the age of 96, according to a statement from her family.

Huerta was a co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962 alongside Cesar Chavez, an organization that served as the predecessor to the United Farm Workers. Her activism spanned decades, focusing on farmworkers' rights, women's rights, reproductive freedom, and educational equity.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described Huerta as a fearless icon who fought for basic human rights well into her nineties. Additionally, California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia noted Huerta's significant influence as a role model for students and her advocacy for the transformative power of higher education.