Latina labor leader recognized for her contributions to America

Dolores Huerta was recently recognized by President Barack Obama when he presented her with the Medal of Freedom, the highest award given to a civilian for their contributions to American society.  The Public Broadcast System interviewed this great leader before she received the Medal.  Here is that interview:

Watch Dolores Huerta Calls Herself 'a Born-Again Feminist' on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

From one Latina to another, Solis comments on Huerta's Medal

Statement by Secretary Solis on Dolores Huerta receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON D.C.  -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the selection of Dolores Huerta for the Presidential Medal of Freedom: 

"As a young girl growing up in La Puente, Calif., I was mesmerized by images of Dolores Huerta. I remember seeing in the newspaper the iconic photo of her holding up the HUELGA sign and seeing her on television, standing behind Robert F. Kennedy just seconds before he was assassinated. 

"I thought she was beautiful, with a mane of raven-colored hair, eyes that danced, and a soft, sweet voice that carried an extraordinary message whenever she spoke to crowds. But for me, her true beauty came from the inside. She lived an authentic life, in service to others. Her passion was and is justice. She has for more than half a century dedicated her life to helping the men and women who harvest America's fields. She has advocated for non-violent protest and has taught people that they have both the personal power and the responsibility to work together to improve their lives. Back then, I never dreamed that I would ever meet her, let alone have the honor of calling her my friend.

"I don't know if Dolores inspired me to become a public servant, but I do know that she inspired -- and insisted -- that I become the best public servant I could be. We got to know each other in the early 1990s, when I was in the California State Legislature. Wherever there was injustice . . . Dolores was there. I remember one of our first meetings as if it were yesterday: I was serving in the State Senate and working with a group of female farmworkers who were organizing a union. There were reports of violence during the campaign, and Dolores came to my office in Sacramento to see me. 

"She showed me a video of a man brutally throwing an entire crate of strawberries on the head of a woman working in the fields. When the video concluded, she looked up at me and simply said, 'We need to do something. Let's get to work.' And we did, crafting legislation and collaborating closely with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board in California. Our efforts made a difference. 

"Dolores was no stranger to acts of violence or threats of intimidation against her. At the age of 58, she was beaten and nearly killed by a San Francisco police officer during a non-violent and lawful protest. She suffered broken bones but never a broken spirit. 

"Today, President Obama will honor her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for a lifetime dedicated to workers' rights and social justice. She joins the ranks of other luminaries throughout history, including Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa, who have received this much-deserved honor. 

"At 82 years young, Dolores still continues to empower people through the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which organizes low-income immigrant communities in the Central San Joaquin Valley for better access to education, health care, fair lending and a cleaner environment. Her passion for justice has expanded to include women's equality, reproductive rights and LGBT issues. Her dancing eyes and sweet voice continue to inspire people across the country and around the world, just like they did for a young girl from La Puente who grew up to be the first Latina in a president's Cabinet. Today, she is my mentor, adviser and wonderful friend. And she is still beautiful." 

Connect with DOL at http://social.dol.gov http://twitter.com/usdol http://www.facebook.com/departmentoflabor http://www.youtube.com/usdepartmentoflabor http://social.dol.gov/blog/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/52862363@N07/ 

SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor

Latina Congresswoman could face callenge in reelection

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez Could Be Challenged By Puerto Rican

The New York Puerto Rican congresswoman defends her performance

by José A. Delgado | jdelgado@elnuevodia.com, El Nuevo Día (March 25, 2012)

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, who is Puerto Rican, could face the challenge of a New York City Councilman of Puerto Rican origin, en route to the Democratic primary next June 26.

Councilman Eric Martin Dilan, whose father, Martin Malave Dilan, was born in Puerto Rico and is a New York State Senator, has announced his intention to challenge Velázquez for the federal seat she occupies in the lower house of the US Congress, which was redistricted after the 2010 Census.

Two other lesser-known candidates intend to run for the position.

Being a predominantly Democratic district, with a strong boricua and Dominican base, the winner of the primary would be virtually assured election to the United States House of Representatives in the November general election.

Velazquez's district - which has included areas of Brooklyn, Queens and a portion of lower Manhattan - was added an area with a high Jewish population, where the Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair and an ally of Dilan, Vito Lopez, is very strong politically, political commentator Angelo Falcón told El Nuevo Dia today.

Although Dilan has the support of the Democratic machine of Brooklyn, Velazquez has two decades in office and is long-established, said Falcón, president of the National Institute for Latino Policy (NILP), with offices in New York.

About 43% of the population of the Velazquez' district is Hispanic.

"As I move around the district and I ask people what has been her greatest achievement, people do not have an answer," Dilan said, according to the local cable TV news station "New York 1."

Velazquez, however, defends her performance and welcomed the possible challenge.

"I'm very proud of my record. It is his prerogative, but it will be an interesting experience for Dilan, "said Velazquez, who was the first and, so far, only Puerto Rican woman in Congress.

She was also the first Hispanic woman to chair a committee of the House of Representatives. She is currently the ranking minority party member on the Small Business Committee, which she headed from 2007 to 2010.

"No matter who the challenger, she's a formidable incumbent, a reformer in her county," said Falcón, who noted that Velazquez has a clean record as a government official.

Another who could face a primary challenge is Congressman Charles Rangel, a Democrat from a district that includes parts of upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who is Dominican-born, has indicated that he is considering a challenge to the veteran Rangel, who has spent four decades in Congress and whose image has been affected after being censured by the full federal lower house, after it was determined that he incurred ethical violations.