Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, dies at 96

Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at her home in Bakersfield, California, her family and the Dolores Huerta Foundation announced. She was 96. The BBC reported that the cause was cancer.

Huerta co-founded what became the United Farm Workers union with César Chávez in the 1960s. The union credits her with coining its motto, "Sí se puede" ("Yes, we can"). She also helped negotiate some of the first farm worker contracts.

Born in New Mexico and raised in Stockton, California, she worked as a teacher before turning to organizing. She later advocated for women's rights, immigration and voting issues through her foundation, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

Tributes on Wednesday came from the UFW, former President Bill Clinton and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Source: BBC News, The Associated Press, Dolores Huerta Foundation (BBC News report on Dolores Huerta's death)