A Statement from NYC CLC President Brendan Griffith on the Passing of Labor Icon Dolores Huerta

The NYC Central Labor Council mourns the loss of Dolores Huerta, a giant of the American Labor Movement who spent her life fighting for workers' rights, civil rights, and justice.

Dolores understood the power of organizing, and she never stopped doing it. Just this past June, at 96 years old, she addressed the AFL-CIO convention. We were fortunate to hear her speak that day.  Dolores reminded us that there was still so much work to be done. She spoke about the challenges facing our country, including unprecedented assaults on unions and immigrants, but she also spoke about the strength we find in standing together; and about her belief that we could come through these difficult times stronger.

And she ended her remarks with a quote from the poet Pablo Neruda that I think is especially meaningful in these times: "They can cut all the flowers, but they can't hold back the spring."

We're grateful for her lifetime of leadership, courage, and commitment to working people. Her legacy will live on in the workers and communities she helped organize and the generations who will follow in her footsteps.

Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.