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Legislature sets April 10 as ‘Dolores Huerta Day’

Published 1:30 am Monday, March 18, 2019

Dolores Huerta (right) watches as the Washington Senate discusses a measure to designate April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day,” on Monday in Olympia. The chamber unanimously passed the measure honoring Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)
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Dolores Huerta (right) watches as the Washington Senate discusses a measure to designate April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day,” on Monday in Olympia. The chamber unanimously passed the measure honoring Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)

Dolores Huerta (right) watches as the Washington Senate discusses a measure to designate April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day,” on Monday in Olympia. The chamber unanimously passed the measure honoring Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)
Dolores Huerta (right) watches as the Washington Senate discusses a measure to designate April 10 as “Dolores Huerta Day,” on Monday in Olympia. The chamber unanimously passed the measure honoring Huerta, the Mexican-American social activist who formed a farmworkers union with Cesar Chavez. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — The Washington Legislature has passed a measure designating April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day.

The measure honoring the Mexican-American social activist passed the Senate unanimously Monday as Huerta watched a few feet from the chamber floor. The House passed it on a 62-34 vote earlier this month, and the bill now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.

Huerta, who will turn 89 on April 10, was a labor leader and civil rights activist who formed United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez. Last year, Washington lawmakers passed a bill designating March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. Such days of recognition are not considered legal holidays in the state.

In 2012, Obama acknowledged Huerta for her role in the creation of his “Yes, We Can” slogan during his first presidential campaign. Her “Si, Se Puede” rallying cry was part of the farmworkers’ movement.

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