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Dolores Huerta, influential labor leader, feminist and civil rights icon, dies at 96
Compiled Oct 28
What happened
Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union with César Chavez in 1962.
The detail
She died at age 96, at home, as announced by her family through her foundation.
The detail
She coined the phrase 'Sí, se puede!' which became a widespread rallying cry.
The detail
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2012.
How it unfolded
1930: Dolores Huerta is born in Dawson, New Mexico. · 1962: Huerta and César Chavez start the National Farm Workers Association, later United Farm Workers. · 1968: Huerta meets Robert Kennedy in Delano and becomes a volunteer on his presidential campaign. · 1988: Huerta is seriously injured by a police baton while protesting George H.W. Bush in San Francisco. · 2012: President Obama presents Huerta with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. · This year: Huerta reveals she was sexually abused by César Chavez in the 1960s, a secret kept for 60 years.
By the numbers
96 age at death · 22 times jailed · 1988 year of injury · 13 number of children · 60 years length of secret kept