Huerta and Chavez's activism celebrated for 30th year
Iconic rights champion, 92, returns to New Mexico to give keynote address
Iconic rights champion, 92, returns to New Mexico to give keynote address
Iconic rights champion, 92, returns to New Mexico to give keynote address
It was a day to honor civil rights legends.
For the 30th year, the annual Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Celebration in Albuquerque honored the courageous campaign these two people led in the 1960s and '70s on behalf of farmworkers who were being exploited.
On this day, none other than Huerta, 92, returned to her native New Mexico to give the keynote address at the celebration.
Employing nonviolent tactics as leaders of the National Farm Workers Association (which led eventually to the establishment of the United Farm Workers union), Chavez and Huerta worked relentlessly for workers' rights and, by extension, the civil rights of Hispanic and undocumented people.
Chavez died in 1993.
KOAT anchor Darlene Melendez had the honor of sitting down with Huerta before her speech on Saturday to talk about her achievements and influence. That story, part of our series celebrating Women's History Month, will air next week.