New Mexico House to Honor Dolores Huerta’s Legacy in her Hometown of Dawson, NM

Santa Fe, N.M. – NM House Democratic leadership announced plans to honor Dolores Huerta’s legacy in Dawson, New Mexico during the upcoming legislative session. House leaders plan to fund a study through the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and in consultation with Huerta’s family to determine the best way to honor the late civil rights leader in her hometown.

Huerta’s hometown of Dawson in Northern New Mexico, was once an incredibly diverse mining hub of 9,000 residents in the early 1900s. The town was largely made up of blue-collar immigrant workers of Mexican, European, Asian, and African descent. Dawson was known to be a close-knit, multi-ethnic community where residents shared their native foods, games, and traditions with one another.

“As we mourn the passing of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, New Mexico is honoring the remarkable legacy she left behind. One of our nation’s greatest champions for workers, immigrants, women, and children hailed from right here in New Mexico. We should all be incredibly proud of this history and seek to carry on her work by uplifting our communities, protecting the vulnerable, and speaking out against injustice in all its forms”, according to the statement issued by House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque) and House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino).

It’s no surprise that this incredible advocate for equality came from Dawson, New Mexico. In its prime, Dolores’ hometown embodied the true ideals of this country and this state, embracing the strength of our diversity and forming a warm, accepting community that transcended race, ethnicity, and language. Like Dolores, Dawson set a shining example we should all seek to follow in local, state, and national government.

Though Dolores will be greatly missed at this year’s legislative session, we look forward to honoring her life-changing legacy and the history of her hometown.”