Labor and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta died Wednesday at the age of 96.

Her family announced the death in a statement, saying she passed away at her home in Bakersfield, California. A family spokesperson confirmed that Huerta had been battling cancer.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96," the family said. "As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family. We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy."

Huerta was born Dolores Clara Fernandez on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. She rose to prominence as a labor organizer in California, co-founding the United Farm Workers union alongside Cesar Chavez in the 1960s. The group led strikes, boycotts, and negotiations for contracts providing farmworkers with better wages, healthcare, job security, and protections from pesticides. Huerta served as the union's chief negotiator and lobbyist during its peak years and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

She previously criticized the immigration policies of President Donald Trump and supported several Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In March 2026, Huerta disclosed that Chavez had sexually abused her in the 1960s and she had kept the matter private for decades to protect the farmworker movement.