Interviews in print
Extract from Garcia, Maria. Biography. August 2017.
We took the following extracts from the Interview from Moreno, Carolina, Dolores Huerta on the Erasure of Women and People of Color from History, Huffington Post. September 9, 2017. The activist also spoke about hashtag activism, abortion rights and her hopes for a people’s march on Washington, D.C.
HP: The film also makes a strong case for solidarity among social political movements. Dolores, as someone who lived the collaborative spirit of the civil rights movement, what do you feel movements like Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March need to do to succeed?
Dolores: Somehow, we’ve got to get all those people that were in those demonstrations and marches to come back to the community and to organize, and also to engage in voting, and to participate in campaigns. Because at the end of the day, it’s the people that are elected that are going to change the policies. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t march, I think marches are great because they publicize what we’re doing, they energize people ― but then you’ve got to take that power and take it to the ballot box.
HP: There’s plenty today’s activists can take away from your story, Dolores. But today activists also count on something you didn’t: social media. What are your thoughts about social media, or so-called hashtag activism, as a form of resistance?
Dolores: Well, I think it’s extremely important, because number one, you have information. People can be informed on the different issues. Some people get that information right away and it can help to mobilize people. But again, under all that activity, you gotta have some strong organizing going on because if we don’t have strong organization, and, again, if people don’t vote, then you don’t make any changes. And the UFW succeeded by helping the Mexican-American community and laborers essentially find their voice and power.
Peter: They went out and registered people at the door for [Robert F.] Kennedy. It was phenomenal.
Dolores: Well, even before that, one of the laws that I passed as a political director was the right to register voters door-to-door. Because before in California, you had to go down to the courthouse, which was Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. And if you didn’t do that, if someone was a deputy registrar, and you could find that deputy, then you could register to vote. So you know what? We changed that. In Texas, they still have the same type of voting that we had in California over 50 years ago. So when people wonder, 50 percent of the population in Texas are Latinos, and yet you have such regressive and conservative politician[s]. Why is that happening? I say, it’s because people cannot even register to vote in the first place.
Video Interviews
Watch the video interviews with:
Dolores Huerta and Peter Bratt with Muse TV
Dolores Huerta and Peter Bratt with El Tecolote reporter Alejandro Galicia Diaz
Dolores Huerta and Peter Bratt with Kamla Show
Dolores Huerta and Peter Bratt with Amy Goodman, Democracy Now
Interview with Muse TV: early section focuses on her feminism
Permissions pending
Interview with El Tecolote reporter Alejandro Galicia Diaz
Permissions pending
Interview with Kamla Show
Permissions pending
Interview with Amy Goodman, Democracy Now
Permissions pending
Disclaimer: The screening of this film does not constitute an endorsement or promotion of the film, nor of any views expressed therein or any association with The Film Committee, DAUK, Democrats Abroad or the Democratic Party. Screenings are solely conceived as educational activities: offering an opportunity for members to discuss issues.
Links to other organizations or publications imply neither endorsement of their policies nor any association with the Democratic Party or Democrats Abroad – UK.