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Dolores Huerta, an icon of the labor movement in California who co-founded the United Farm Workers, died Wednesday at the age of 96, her family announced.

“As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family,” her family said in a post on social media. “We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy.”

Huerta was a fierce champion for the rights of migrant laborers, organizing strikes and boycotts against agricultural companies in California and negotiating contracts with strong benefits for workers in the 1960s. Together with César Chávez, Huerta co-founded the organization that eventually became the United Farm Workers.

Earlier this year, Huerta revealed to The New York Times that Chavez raped her inside a car in 1966. She also said she felt pressured to have sex with him in a hotel room during a work trip in 1960. Two of her 14 children are the result of those encounters with Chavez, she told The Times.

Huerta’s accounts of sexual assault by Chavez came alongside allegations that he groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the labor rights movement.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

The post Dolores Huerta, icon of the labor rights movement, dies at 96 appeared first on MS NOW.

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