History was made in Washington state in March. On March 18, 2019 the Washington Legislature passed a measure to designate April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day.
This Mexican-American social activist co-founded, with Cesar Chavez, the National Farmworkers Association, which is now known as United Farm Workers (UFW). Huerta is also known for her help in organization of the Delano grape strike in 1965. After the strike she was the main negotiator for the contract. She is well known in the Hispanic community in the United States. Dolores Huerta is a recipient of many awards including such prestigious awards as the United States Presidential Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1993 she a was the first Latina ever to be inducted in the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2012, former President Obama recognized that Huerta played a role in the creation of “Yes, We Can” slogan that was used during his first presidential campaign. “Si, Se Puede” was the rallying cry during the farmworkers’ movement.
Dolores Huerta will turn 89 years old on April 10. She was present in the Senate during voting. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and now it is heading to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk for his signature. Last year Washington lawmakers also passed a bill designating March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. These types of recognitions are considered legal holidays in the state of Washington.
Latino activists being recognized and celebrated is a great news. It is even greater news that well-known civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, a Latina woman nonetheless, is getting a well-deserved acknowledgement from state leaders with the designation of April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day.
If you would like to meet this legend in Iowa please save the date of September 20, 2019 as she will be the keynote for the 2019 INSPIRED Event presented by the Chrysalis Foundation at 11:30am at the Downtown Hilton in Des Moines. For more information on this event follow us on Facebook on our page Hola America News.
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