On June 27, 2025, Dolores Huerta was interviewed by guest host Diego Luna on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Luna seemed in awe of her. I am as well. At 95, this mother of 11 youngsters has actually been a force for human rights throughout the lifetime of virtually every person active today.
Diego Luna briefly alluded to her lengthy record of success however placed the spotlight on the here and now. Faced by the terrible and unconstitutional plans and activities of the Trump administration toward evacuees and migrants, Dolores Huerta is once more in the lead of vocal resistance. Her reactions to Luna’s questions were emblematic. First she talked fact to those in power, as she always does. She summarized the assaults on peaceful, law-abiding functioning people by United States immigration representatives (ICE) in raids on schools, churches, workplaces, and courtrooms in its passion to deport undocumented immigrants with absolutely no due process. Dolores contacted Congress, state and local governments, and the courts to quit these unlawful expulsions. Then she spoke directly to individuals, as she constantly does. She recommended individuals at risk of being targeted by ICE to lug ID, say absolutely nothing to the detaining representatives, and do everything possible to safeguard their civil liberties.
As someone that has actually been energetic in the civils rights activity for over 50 years, I can attest to the number of people learned seriously crucial lessons from Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and the United Farm Employees’ battle for justice and self-respect. The UFW boosted the power of boycotts, picketing, demonstrations, and various other devices of labor arranging with the inspiring and unifying components of music and charismatic management. Its motto: Sí se puede , presented by Dolores Huerta in the very early days of the farm employee battle, equates as “Yes, it can be done,” a message of confidence, confidence, and resolution– an uplifting admonition to go on getting along.
No message might be extra prompt today. It is challenging to be positive when extremism has gotten a stranglehold on all 3 branches of U.S. federal government, and while the mainstream media persists in normalizing the political madness we are seeing. However due to the fact that these words are uttered by Dolores Huerta, a civils rights leader that has confirmed the reality of Sí se puede via success after success for farm employees and their households, we who count on freedom and the guideline of legislation need to pay attention, take heart and when feasible act upon this message. Which suggests speaking out separately or with each other in whatever ways we can. Joan Baez, that in 1973 recruited me as a volunteer for Amnesty International, once wrote, “Action is the remedy to misery.” If we act, yes, we can defeat totalitarianism in our very own country, and indeed, we must.
Dolores Huerta was the main speaker at the very first presentation for economic and social justice I ever before went to, in San Francisco in 1972 On the street outside a grocery store parking lot, a striking woman in a straw hat, introduced as a founder of the UFW, tipped to the front of a group of farm workers and other lobbyists and spoke through a megaphone. Dolores Huerta’s message was quick and to the factor: We are right here. We are people. We put food on your tables. And we demand just what every human being requirements and should have: equal justice under the legislation, and an opportunity to reside in dignity. In Delano years later, marching with the UFW in uniformity with Cesar Chavez throughout a lengthy hunger strike, I paid attention once more to Dolores talking basic however powerful words to the people. Not long after, unfortunately, I was back in Delano once again on the austere event of Cesar’s memorial. And again, Dolores led the march.
I reached out to Dolores this spring to ask her consent to include a chapter on her in the narrative I’m getting ready for Lived Places Publishing, to be titled The Leadership of Females: Even More Stories of Uniformity and Battle in the Civil Rights Activity Guide is a collection of tales of ladies in the management of the civils rights motion that have inspired me. Dolores is much also active now, because of Trump’s battle on Los Angeles and with the human rights situation underway for travelers, evacuees, females, minorities, and working family members. So we settled on this post. This is what I can do. Dolores is once again being heard out there on the cutting edge, which she has never ever left. Doing what she can do.
The management of females in the motion for civils rights today is perfectly personified by Dolores Huerta right here in the “Land of the Free” and by President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico. When viewing the phenomenon of Trump’s monstrous abuse of power becomes as well bitter, for alleviation I seek photos like the one included above, of Dolores Huerta with individuals, smiling, joyous, unafraid. Or for pictures of Claudia Sheinbaum vocal singing and dancing with youngsters. Leading with love, not giving in.
At the close of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the target market climbed to shout Sí se puede with Diego Luna and Dolores Huerta. It was for me a heartening suggestion that we are several, we are below, we won’t give up to anguish, and we will certainly be listened to.
— David Hinkley, August 2025
David’s following publication, The Leadership of Females: Even More Stories of Uniformity and Struggle in the Civil Rights Movement looms. Please register for be notified when it’s available:
David Hinkley’s Stories of Uniformity and Battle offers an unique expert check out the global battle for human rights, informed in prose and poetry, covering the techniques and techniques, awesome triumphes, tragic beats, and lessons learned.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF), which Dolores co-founded with Camila Chavez in 2003, empowers grassroots management and advocates for academic equity, LGBTQ+ legal rights, facilities renovations, and public interaction in underserved communities. Via DHF, Dolores assists attach neighborhood arranging to statewide and nationwide movements for justice. To find out more please get in touch with the Dolores Huerta Structure at doloreshuerta.org.