Huerta’s voting rights work nearly erased in obituaries
The labor leader died at 96, and her push to remove poll taxes and literacy tests was mentioned once in passing in local coverage.
By Julian Khan ·
Dolores Huerta died last week at age 96. The labor leader spent decades fighting for the right of Latino workers to vote. That fight received little attention in the obituaries published this week.
The Chicago Sun-Times printed a front-page obituary for Huerta. The article detailed her life and career. It mentioned voting exactly once. That single reference appeared in passing. The obituary spent more space describing a history of sexual abuse than it did on her work to secure ballots.
In the 1950s, Huerta co-founded the Community Service Organization. The group helped Latino communities fight discrimination and economic hardship. It also targeted voter suppression. Huerta believed political power was necessary for lasting change. She worked to ensure farmworkers and Latinos could access the ballot box despite widespread barriers.
Huerta led voter registration drives in rural communities. She went door-to-door to help people overcome language barriers and intimidation. She also pushed to eliminate poll taxes. These taxes disproportionately affected poor and minority voters. Her efforts helped elect leaders who fought for workers' rights.
Huerta worked closely with Robert F. Kennedy in the 1960s. In 1968, she stood by his side the night he won the California Democratic primary. She was there just moments before he was assassinated. She also helped advocate for the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That law prohibited racial discrimination in voting and empowered more Latino communities to participate in elections.
The current administration has moved to cast doubt on election results. It seeks to undermine and control the process. These actions echo the conditions Huerta fought against for decades. The effort to limit voting access brings back challenges that were once thought settled.
Many Americans believe a moment of liberation is near. Freedom is not permanent. Someone is always trying to take it away. Millions of Americans fought to secure the rights Huerta defended. The current push to restrict voting threatens those gains.
The Day of the Dead falls on November 1 and 2. It is a time to honor the dead. The barrier between the living and the dead is considered thinner during this period. The voices of those who fought for voting rights remain relevant in today's political climate.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
