Civil Rights icon Dolores Huerta was in East Lansing Tuesday as part of Michigan State University’s eighth annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration. WKAR’s Karel Vega has more.
Dolores Huerta is 87 years old, but you wouldn’t be able to tell when talking with her. Huerta has been an activist for over half a century and was instrumental in fighting for civil and economic improvements for farm workers, Latinos, and unions.
Speaking to WKAR, Huerta explained how the “Me Too” movement has resonated even to women who work in labor jobs.
“People have to understand that nobody is going to do this for you." Says Huerta. "You’ve got to stand up and you’ve gotta fight for yourself. To me that’s what the "Me Too" movement stands for. And I think that the "Me Too" movement is inspiring women at all walks of life and in all occupations to get out there and stand up for themselves.”
Huerta delivered the keynote address for this year’s Cesar E Chavez Commemorative celebration at MSU’s Kellogg Center. Later, she attended a screening of the PBS Documentary Dolores at WKAR studios. The film highlights Huerta’s fight for racial and labor justice alongside Cesar Chavez.
Following the film, Huerta was part of a Q & A panel that ended with a rallying cry for unity.
"Who's got the power?" Huerta asks, followed by a roar of "we've got the power" from the audience.
The Independent Lens documentary Dolores premieres on WKAR-TV on March 27 at 9:00 p.m.
