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Honor Dolores Huerta by getting out the vote for Gore
and other Democratic candidates, Huerta family asks
As United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta continues fighting for her life in a Bakersfield, Calif. hospital, her family issued an appeal for supporters to remember her by helping turn out the vote for Vice President Al Gore and other Democratic candidates on Election Day, Nov. 7.
Messages, cards and flowers have been pouring into Bakersfield’s Heart Hospital since Huerta, 70, began undergoing surgery and treatment on Oct. 29 for a rare aortic condition that caused severe bleeding in her intestines. She remains in critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
There have also been reports of vigils and other events planned in a number of states on behalf of Huerta, who is a pioneer in the labor, Latino and women’s movements.
“I know my mother would ask friends and supporters to express their concern and solidarity with her by working to encourage Latinos and other voters to go to the polls for Vice President Al Gore and other Democratic candidates who support just causes such as the farm workers,” says Bakersfield attorney Emilio Huerta, one of her 11 children. “My entire family urges everyone to honor Dolores Huerta by doing what she would be doing if she could: working her heart out, walking precincts, phone banking and doing everything possible to encourage people to vote until the polls close on Election Day.”
In 1962, Huerta, then a single mother of seven children, joined Cesar Chavez and his family in nearby Delano, Calif. where they formed what would become the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO.
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11/8/00 (12 noon) – UPDATE – Dolores Huerta’s condition continues to improve today (Wednesday, Nov. 8). Today she was moved from the critical care unit to a regular floor of Bakersfield Heart Hospital. Her prognosis looks very good. Her kidney functions are improving although she currently experiencing a small complication with her gallbladder. Dolores is still not able to recieve visitors and phone calls, as her condition is delicate. The Huerta family wants to thank everyone for their prayers and concern.
11/7/00 (6:30 a.m.) — Update — Although Dolores Huerta is still in the intensive care unit at Heart Hospital in Bakersfield, she has shown significant improvement. She is off of the ventilator, speaking and is alert. Her family feels she is on her way to recovery. Dolores voted last night by absentee ballot and urges everyone to get out and vote. Viva Dolores Huerta!