Dolores Huerta

The Cardinal celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

Dolores+Huerta

Daisy Castaneda, Senior Writer

Dolores Huerta is a 90 year old woman who took a giant stand in fighting for Hispanic American labor rights. Born in 1930, she was a New Mexico native, growing up in a farm worker community. She used to work as a teacher for a while after attending college. This was all before she decided to go on the path of changing the world. During her time, she soon created the Agricultural Workers Association (AWA), because she wanted to improve the lives of others. She first joined the Community Service Organization where she met a fellow activist named Cesar Chavez. She was the co-founder of AWA in 1960 and she even collaborated with Chavez to found the National Farmworkers Association in 1962.

In September 1988, in front of the St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, Huerta was severely beaten by San Francisco Police officer, Frank Achim, during a peaceful and lawful protest of the policies/platform of then-candidate for president George H.W. Bush. After, she had to step down even though it was a peaceful raid, her injuries took a long time to recover. Later on she received an award for Human Rights in 1998 under President Clinton. She also received the Medal of Freedom under President Obama in 2012.