California proclaims April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day”

Known for its motto “Yes we can”, Huerta has become a national benchmark in the struggle of immigrants, women, and workers’ rights, among the dozens of causes in which he has led the way.

Newsom’s statement highlights that “Huerta has been a tireless advocate for California workers.”

Born 10 April 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, the Hispanic woman moved to the Golden State at a very young age, where she began her crusade in favor of Latinos and the underprivileged.

Through this work, he joined forces with the leader César Chávez to call for better conditions for agricultural workers and their families in the decade of the 60.

Huerta along with Chávez, Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Pete Velasco and Andy Imutan, formed the United Farm Workers (UFW) in Delano, California , where The Grape Strike was created, which ended up giving farmers rights in California.

The California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, proclaimed after the union effort, was the foundation of laws at the national level that expanded collective bargaining rights to agricultural workers.

Huerta became the first Latina selected for the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993, and in 2016, was awarded by then-President Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.

The activist has been a tireless voice in the defense of the undocumented, and of immigration reform.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic he has fought for defending the rights of essential workers, and their families, among other causes, through its Foundation Dolores Huerta.

“East 10 of April, We celebrate Huerta’s lifelong commitment to justice for all and the many paths that he opened for generations of activists, ”the proclamation underscores.

“ May his battle cry of “Yes we can” continue to inspire us to fight for the change of our communities need to prosper ”, he adds.