Happy Birthday to one remarkable woman. At 90 years young Dolores Huerta continues her ceaseless work for the betterment of all humanity. From farm workers to women’s rights to human rights to environmental justice Dolores Huerta has been and continues to be a tireless advocate of human dignity and equality. If civil rights advocacy was a religion Dolores Huerta would be a living saint.

She is a constant friend to Colorado and Denver having visited here numerous times for various causes. Most recently Huerta was in Denver this past December as part of the Bold Women Change History lecture series at the History Colorado Museum.

Here is a look back at some of those times, the issues and the people who came out to support her and her many causes. Maybe you or someone you know was at one of these events. See the photo galleries below.

Carlos Santana’s “Dolores” (Huerta) Opens Women+Film Festival In Denver

Despite a blustery spring snow storm a sold out audience came out for the opening night of the Women+Film Festival at Sie FilmCenter in Denver to attend the screening of “Dolores” as well as to meet the civil rights icon in person. The film, Directed by Peter Bratt and produced by Carlos Santana, tells how Huerta fought tirelessly alongside Cesar Chavez for racial and labor justice and became one of the most defiant feminists of the twentieth century. Huerta, co-founder of the United Farmworkers Association, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, met with attendees before and after the screening and was more than gracious with everyone.

The only two women inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Linda Alvardo, Alvardo Construction/Colorado Rockies and Dolores Huerta were selected on the basis of the changes they created that affect the social, economic and cultural aspects of society

Latin leadership pioneers Polly Baca, Dolores Huerta and Juana Bordas

A review of the film’s debut at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival is available at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/dolores-review-969573.

Ruth Sanchez, who saw the Denver screening said,  “It was a “long” overdue film, depicting a true civil rights leader! The film touched on the awareness of sacrifice that one woman would endure for the oppressed farm workers & their families.  Such a courageous woman who would work alongside men, both on the Board & in the fields!  A male dominant world, who later would gently tip their hats and applaud her for the unselfish and driven ways to make their lives better. Bravo to the Director & Producers! Bravo, Dolores!”

Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

2014 America’s Latino Eco Festival Honors Dolores Huerta With  Nuestra Mardre Award

Boulder, Colorado….Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

“If We Don’t Vote The Haters Win,” Dolores Huerta, Colorado Latino Leaders And Voters Speak Out Against Republican Candidates (from2015)

Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

 “If we don’t vote the hater’s win” said civil rights leader  Dolores Huerta back in October of 2015 in Denver, echoing the settlements of a group of community leaders who had gathered for a round table forum to discuss the negative positions Republican presidential candidates have taken toward on issues that impact Latino and women living in the United States.

The round table was organized by the  People For the American Way (PFAW) organization.  Dolores Huerta is a board member of PFAW and came to Denver to  join Latino leaders and voters for a conversation on how all of the GOP candidates have rejected or ignored priorities of Colorado Latino voters. Rep. Joe Salazar and Denise Maes led the conversation.

“It appears that it is a race to bottom to see who can demonize who the most and what issues they can demonize for maximum effect” said Denise Maes.

 

“This conversation is so important because all the Republican candidates – Bush, Rubio, Trump, all of them – must know that they’re completely out of line with the priorities of Latino community. They’ve rejected everything we stand for, like supporting working families, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare, and protecting members of our community from deportation. It’s just unacceptable.

 

On women’s health: Responding to video footage of Jeb Bush boasting about defunding Planned Parenthood and Mike Huckabee promising to go beyond defunding Planned Parenthood, Dolores Huerta said, “They’re talking about jeopardizing women’s lives.” Coloradan Jenny Santos stated, “Latinos are among the most uninsured population. We go to [Planned Parenthood] to obtain services and resources. [Defunding Planned Parenthood] is an attack on our community.”

 

On immigration: Rep. Salazar explained, “Marco Rubio has renounced comprehensive immigration reform and pushes a borders-first approach; Jeb Bush has disparaged citizens born to undocumented parents by using the offensive term ‘anchor babies; Donald Trump has called Mexican immigrants ‘rapists.’ This is deeply troubling to me as I’m sure it is for all of us here.”

 

Coloradoan Adrian Nava said, “I’m the child of undocumented immigrants….I’ve grown up with all the rights of being a citizen. To hear these remarks is really disheartening…I’m a student at the University of Denver, I’m supposed to register for classes next week, and I can’t because I haven’t paid tuition yet. [I can’t ask] my parents for help because they’re saving up to become residents, for lawyers fees…I don’t think these candidates think about these sort of things.”

 

Nava on Trump’s role in the race: “I think Trump is just taking a very direct approach, and other folks in the [Republican] party are already there, they have the same beliefs, they’re just not as direct as Trump.”

 

Nadya, a DREAMer, said, “I’m disgusted by the fact that there are these ‘Latino’ [candidates] that are against everything we are. I was raised here…what gives them the right to say that I’m not one of them? I find it really sad that they claim to be Latino, but they’re going against us. Especially Senator Rubio and Ted Cruz.”

 

Living Legend Dolores Huerta Looks Forward by Reflecting on the Past

The social activist, who has lead movements for women, the Latinx community, and farm workers talks about how the lessons of the past apply today.

BY JESSE KLEIN • DECEMBER 9, 2019 5280 Magazine
Even if you haven’t heard of Dolores Huerta, you’ve heard her famous slogan “Sí, se puede.” After meeting and working with Cesar Chavez to found United Farm Workers of America in 1962, Huerta has lived a long life of activism, fighting for labor rights, leading boycotts, and organizing women for the past five decades. Age has never stopped her. At 58, Huerta was assaulted by police in San Francisco. The officer broke four ribs and damaged her spleen while she was protesting then-presidential candidate George H.W. Bush. She was awarded the most prestigious civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President Barack Obama in 2012.

Her organization, the Dolores Huerta Foundation has continued to…Read more HERE