Virginia LULAC Celebrates Dolores Huerta and the Farmworker Movement

The Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) recognizes and honors Dolores Huerta for her courage in speaking her truth.

In recent weeks, Ms. Huerta shared that she endured abuse during the early years of the farmworker movement and remained silent for decades out of concern for the cause she helped build. Her decision to come forward now is an act of profound courage and clarity.

Her voice reminds us that no movement, no matter how historic or impactful, should come at the cost of silence, pain, or the suppression of truth.

As an organization grounded in dignity, justice, and civil rights, Virginia LULAC affirms this clearly:

• We must believe women, especially when they come forward after years of silence

• We must ensure that no woman feels fear in speaking her truth

• We must center victims, not protect reputations or legacies

• We must reject any effort to justify, excuse, or diminish acts of harm in the name of a greater cause

We also recognize the complexity of history. César Chávez played a significant role in advancing the rights of farmworkers and elevating the dignity of labor in this country. That work created meaningful and lasting change.

At the same time, recent allegations of abuse, including those brought forward by Ms. Huerta and others, call for honest reflection and accountability.

We must be clear: acknowledging truth does not erase a movement, but it does demand that we confront it with integrity.

This moment is not about rewriting history, but about understanding it fully.

As Dolores Huerta has demonstrated through her life of advocacy, the dignity and voice of women, especially women of color, must never be silenced or dismissed. No woman should feel that she must carry silence to protect a cause, a leader, or a legacy.

Virginia LULAC reaffirms:

Women must feel safe and supported to live in their truth, and we must build a society where they are believed when they do.

This is the standard we must uphold, not only in moments of crisis, but in all aspects of our work.

Movements are not built on individuals alone. They are sustained by values, by communities, and by the courage of those who continue to push them forward with honesty and accountability.

We honor Dolores Huerta not only for her lifelong leadership, but for her courage in this moment. Her voice strengthens the movement by ensuring it reflects the very principles it was built upon.

Truth is not something to fear. It is something that moves us forward.

Virginia LULAC remains committed to uplifting truth, supporting those who speak it, and advancing justice with integrity and courage.

###

About Virginia LULAC

Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.

Contact:

virginialulacofficial@gmail.com | valulac.org