- California's iconic labor leader, Dolores Huerta, has died at the age of 96, her family said on Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy of community activism that her protgs say should last on because of how she led and trained them.

What they're saying: "As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family," her family said in a statement.

"We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy." Dig deeper: As co-founder of what eventually became the United Farm Workers union, Huerta was the face of a movement that for decades aimed to empower the lives of workers through higher wages, health benefits, pensions and improved safety.