Civil Rights Pioneer Dolores Huerta Passes Away at 96

The death of 96-year-old Dolores Huerta, one of the pioneers of the civil rights struggle, caused great sadness in the political world at both the local and national levels. Figures such as President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Governor's office commemorated Huerta's legacy.

Political leaders shared memorial messages following the death of 96-year-old Dolores Huerta, known for her work in Bakersfield and the Central Valley region and for bringing farmworkers' and women's rights to a global scale. Bakersfield Mayor Pro Tempore Manpreet Kaur emphasized that Huerta put Kern County and the Central Valley on the world map, noting how she trained and mentored the next generation of political leaders behind the scenes.

Kern County Democratic Party Chair Christian Romo stated that Huerta was a very important mentor to him. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in memory of Huerta. Huerta had received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2012 and served as a keynote speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.