Designates April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to honor her lifelong commitment to civil rights, labor activism, and the pursuit of equality.
Sylvia Garcia
Representative
TX-29
This bill supports the designation of April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day" to recognize her lifelong commitment to activism, including co-founding the United Farm Workers Union and advocating for civil rights. It celebrates her achievements in improving Latino voting access, ensuring safer working conditions, and promoting feminism and women's equality. The bill also acknowledges her numerous awards and ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Resolution Supports Designating April 10th as 'Dolores Huerta Day' to Honor Civil Rights & Labor Leader
This resolution throws its support behind officially naming April 10th as "Dolores Huerta Day." The core idea is to formally recognize the extensive contributions of Dolores Huerta, a major figure in American labor and civil rights history, particularly for her work advocating for farmworkers, women, and Latino communities.
More Than Just a Date
The resolution isn't just about adding a name to the calendar; it's a formal acknowledgment of a lifetime dedicated to activism. It specifically points to Huerta's early work starting in 1955 with the Community Services Organization, aimed at boosting Latino voter access and economic standing. It highlights her pivotal role alongside César Chávez in co-founding the National Farm Workers Association (which became the United Farm Workers Union or UFW) in 1962.
From Grape Boycotts to Lasting Change
The text recounts key moments where Huerta's leadership made a tangible difference. Think the influential late 1960s table grape boycotts that culminated in a groundbreaking union contract by 1970, and the 1965 Delano strike involving 5,000 grape workers. It also credits her leadership in the consumer boycott that paved the way for the 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act – a landmark law granting farmworkers the right to organize and bargain collectively for the first time. The resolution notes she originated the rallying cry, "Sí Se Puede" ("Yes, We Can").
A Legacy of Recognition
Beyond labor rights, the resolution celebrates Huerta's broader impact on feminism, women's equality, and increasing political representation for Latinos and women. It lists numerous accolades, including induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1993), the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award (1998), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012). It also mentions her ongoing work through the Dolores Huerta Foundation, founded in 2003. Essentially, this resolution aims to cement her legacy in the public consciousness and encourages the nation to keep pushing for the equality and civil rights she championed.