Designates April 10 of each year as "Dolores Huerta Day."

AJR168

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 168

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblyman� ANTHONY S. VERRELLI

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Drulis, Assemblyman Freiman and Assemblywoman
Brennan

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates April 10 of each year as �Dolores Huerta
Day.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating April 10 of each
year as �Dolores Huerta Day� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

Dolores Clara Fern�ndez Huerta was born on April 10, 1930, in New Mexico, and emerged
as a prominent figure in labor activism and the Chicano civil rights movement;
and

Whereas,

Huerta was raised by her mother, Alicia Ch�vez, in California and was
influenced by her mother's activism and discrimination witnessed firsthand; and

Whereas,

Despite facing obstacles, including biased treatment in school and violence
against her family, Huerta pursued an education, earning an associate teaching
degree; and

Whereas,

In 1955, Huerta co-founded the Stockton, California chapter of the Community
Service Organization (CSO), focusing on voter registration and economic
improvements for Hispanics; and

Whereas,

Huerta co-founded found the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later
became the United Farm Workers� Union (UFW); and

Whereas,

Huerta played a pivotal role in organizing strikes and negotiating contracts
for farm workers, advocating for better working conditions and benefits, and
led successful nationwide boycotts of table grapes, prompting legislative
changes including the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975,
granting farm workers the right to unionize; and

Whereas,

Huerta is the originator of the UFW motto �S� se puede,� which translates to
�Yes, it can be done;� and

Whereas,

Throughout the 1970s to 2000s, Huerta continued her activism, lobbying for
workers' rights, Latino and women's representation in politics, and gender
equality; and

Whereas,

Huerta is a survivor of sexual assault and abuse; and

Whereas,

Political and gender dynamics and a fear of harming the farmworker movement
caused Huerta to keep the abuse a secret for most of her life; and

Whereas,

Later, Huerta came forward and shared her experiences with sexual assault and
abuse during her time as a community organizer, providing an example to other
survivors that they need not suffer alone; and

Whereas,

Huerta�s contributions earned her numerous accolades, including the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012; and

Whereas,

Huerta remains active in various organizations, including the Dolores Huerta
Foundation, focusing on feminist and labor issues; and

Whereas,

Huerta�s legacy continues to inspire activism for social justice, worker�s
rights, and equality for women; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� April 10 of each year is
designated �Dolores Huerta Day� in New Jersey to honor the legacy of Dolores
Huerta as a community organizer and activist for social justice, worker�s
rights, and equality for women.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and
the citizens of New Jersey to observe �Dolores Huerta Day� with appropriate
activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This Joint Resolution
designates April 10 of each year as �Dolores Huerta Day� in the State.

���� Dolores Huerta, born on April
10, 1930, in New Mexico, became a significant figure in labor activism and the
Chicano civil rights movement. �Raised by her mother in California, Huerta
experienced discrimination early in life, yet pursued an education and earned
an associate teaching degree. �

���� Huerta co-founded the
Community Service Organization (CSO) and later the National Farm Workers
Association (NFWA), which evolved into the United Farm Workers' Union (UFW). �Huerta
was instrumental in organizing strikes, negotiating contracts for farm workers,
and advocating for their rights, including leading boycotts that resulted in
legislative changes, including the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act
of 1975. �

���� Huerta continued her activism throughout
the 1970s to 2000s, focusing on workers' rights, Latino and women's
representation in politics, and gender equality.� Huerta is a survivor of
sexual assault and abuse; political and gender dynamics and a fear of harming
the farmworker movement caused Huerta to keep the abuse a secret for most of
her life. �Later, she came forward about her own experiences with sexual
assault and abuse during her time as a community organizer, providing an
example to other survivors that they need not suffer alone.

���� Huerta, who coined the motto
"S� se puede," has received numerous honors, including the
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.� Huerta remains active in various
organizations, including the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and her legacy
continues to inspire activism for social justice, worker�s rights, and equality
for women.

���� On March 18, 2026, several
credible accounts surfaced alleging that Cesar Chavez, who worked closely with
Dolores Huerta in the labor and farmworker movements, sexually assaulted and
abused several women and girls, including Huerta.� The General Assembly of the
State of New Jersey passed a resolution honoring Chavez in 2024.� It is the
intent of the sponsors to acknowledge the pain this may have caused Huerta and
the other survivors of Chavez�s assaults, and to instead honor Dolores Huerta
for her enduring leadership and pivotal role in advancing the rights of
farmworkers, Latinos, and women in the United States.