Why is Dolores Huerta a hero? What challenges did Dolores Huerta face?

American activist Dolores Huerta is regarded as a hero for her efforts in fighting for farm workers rights, and good working conditions, negotiating contracts, fighting for women’s rights and the Latino community.

What challenges did Dolores Huerta face?

Huerta couldn’t spend much time with her family and 11 children.

She was threatened several times and beaten by the San Francisco police for leading a peaceful protest.

Who Is Dolores Huerta?

Dolores Huerta is a labor leader, human rights activist, and co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, which has now formed part of the United Farm Workers (UFW).

Born on April 10, 1930, in New Mexico, United States, Huerta was at the forefront of the Delano grape strike in 1965 in California and helped negotiate the workers’ contract afterwards.

Huerta became known for the phrase “Sí, se puede”, and became an icon of hope and a mouthpiece for the Latinos.

For her unwavering efforts, April 10 was set aside in California as Dolores Huerta Day.

Huerta has faced arrest twenty-two times for her non-violent protests and strikes, but she remains steadfast to the human rights cause.

She is a board member of People for the American Way, Consumer Federation of California, and Feminist Majority Foundation.

As far back as 1968, Huerta worked with Robert F. Kennedy and was present on stage with him during his victory speech after his win at the California Democratic presidential primary election.

Huerta has received no less than 15 honorary doctorates, and became the first Latina to be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, in 1993.

For her community service and advocacy she has received numerous awards including “the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2012.”