Huerta speaks to OC on Latinos, racism

More than 800 people stomped their feet and clapped their hands for Dolores Huerta in the Oxnard College gym Nov. 28. Smiling, Huerta took the stage to a standing ovation from the excited crowd.

Huerta, founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and co-founder of the United Farm Workers' union, addressed students and faculty about her experiences and struggles, giving insight into her views, motivation, goals and accomplishments.

Although Huerta was successful in creating a union for farm workers, she said that there are still a lot of problems that exist.

"Today in many parts of the United States, farm workers are treated worse," she said. "They have no toilets or drinking water. We still have a lot of work to do to get the rights for farmers."

She addressed the anti-immigration movement and said that it was an attack on all people of color, especially Latinos.

"We didn't cross the border; the border crossed us," Huerta said to a cheering crowd. "We, the Latinos, are the indigenous people of America. Billions of dollars have been put into social security and the undocumented people will never see that money. They are not criminals. They are just people trying to work."

She encouraged students to participate and get involved because they have the power to make changes.

"We have to keep working," Huerta said. "We can overturn bills. Nothing is going to change unless we do. Vote because we can elect good people to pass good laws."

Huerta also offered advice to the young men and women in the audience.

"[You] need to be strong because we have a lot of things we need to fix in our country right now," she said. "Girls, we have got to be strong and think, 'how are we going to support ourselves?' No one will do it but us. You need to think about going to college."

After her speech, she took the time to meet and talk with students. Many took the opportunity to take photos and get autographs of Huerta.

"It was wonderful to see all the students," Huerta said. "They were a fabulous audience."

For more information about Huerta, go to doloreshuerta.org.