Labor activist Dolores Huerta says Trump 'does not know history'

Longtime labor activist Dolores Huerta asserted that President Donald Trump's disparaging remarks about Mexicans demonstrate his ignorance of history. The 96-year-old urged Latino voters in California, Texas, and other states to mobilize for political change in the upcoming November elections.

"This is our moment," Huerta told CBS News, recalling Trump's 2015 campaign launch speech where he characterized Mexican immigrants as bringing drugs, crime, and being rapists. Huerta countered, "He does not know history. He does not know that Texas was once part of Mexico."

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You know, the first thing when [the president] came down that escalator, he attacked Mexicans. … He does not know history. He does not know that Texas was once part of Mexico.

Huerta, a co-founder of the organization that became the United Farm Workers, has been a prominent figure in civil rights activism since the 1960s. She is also known for popularizing the slogan "si, se puede," which was famously adopted by Barack Obama's campaign as "Yes, we can."

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I just want to say that this is our moment.

Speaking at the Texas Democratic Convention, Huerta expressed enthusiasm for the Democratic Party's efforts to win statewide races in Texas. She noted the significance of the Latino vote, citing that Beto O'Rourke received 64% of the Latino vote in his close 2018 Senate race against Ted Cruz. Huerta believes that achieving similar support in 2026 will be crucial for Democratic victories.

Huerta also pointed to the Democratic nominee for governor of California, Xavier Becerra, as an example of Latino representation, suggesting that if Democrats can achieve success in heavily Democratic California, similar gains are possible in Texas. She dismissed Republican attacks on Democratic candidates like Texas State Rep. James Talarico as "ridiculous."

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The attacks that Republicans have lobbed against Talarico are ridiculous.