Dolores Huerta's voting work often missed in obituaries
The labor leader died last week at 96, and while her life was widely covered, recent tributes detail her decades of work to register Latino voters.
By Kavya Robinson ·
Dolores Huerta died last week at the age of 96. While major media outlets gave her passing front-page coverage, detailed accounts of her specific work on voting rights have been less prominent. Her obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times mentions voting only once, in passing. This stands in contrast to the extensive space given to other aspects of her personal history, such as her sexual abuse.
The labor leader and civil rights icon co-founded the Community Service Organization in the 1950s. The group was established to help Latino communities combat discrimination, economic hardship, and voter suppression. A recent tribute from the Fair Elections Center outlines this period of her activism. It notes that she viewed political power as essential for lasting change.
Huerta led voter registration drives in rural communities. She frequently went door-to-door to help people overcome language barriers and intimidation. She also campaigned for the removal of poll taxes, which disproportionately affected poor and minority voters. Her efforts were part of a broader push to ensure farmworkers and Latinos had access to the ballot box.
Her influence extended into the 1960s and 1970s. She played a key role in mobilizing Latino voters to elect leaders who advocated for workers' rights. In 1968, she worked closely with Robert F. Kennedy. She was by his side the night he won the California Democratic primary, moments before he was assassinated. She also helped advocate for the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
The timing of her death coincides with the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos. Nov. 1 is dedicated to lost children, known as Día de los Angelitos, while Nov. 2, Monday, is Día de los Difuntos, or All Souls Day, dedicated to adults. Some communities observe a longer period known as the Week of the Dead. Tuesday, Nov. 3, is the scheduled date for the U.S. presidential election.
The connection between the holiday and the election is not new. The source notes that the political element of the Day of the Dead is often overlooked. It highlights the children currently in ICE custody, who are alive but separated from their parents. It also calls for remembering departed allies who fought for democratic access.
Huerta's work is being revisited as the current administration takes steps to question and control elections. The source argues that efforts to undermine the process represent a return to a past state of affairs. It urges citizens to remain vigilant. The voices of those who fought for these rights are described as a reminder to make the system work.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
