Dolores Huerta urges unity at San Francisco Human Rights Summit

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Dolores Huerta delivered a call for unity and resistance Thursday at the Fourth Annual San Francisco Pride Human Rights Summit, emphasizing the need for collective action amid what she described as growing threats to civil rights.

"Just celebrating Pride week is a reminder that we all have to be united because what we're facing is so dangerous especially for our LGBTQ community," Huerta said.

The longtime labor leader and feminist activist spoke to attendees gathered ahead of the city's Pride festivities. Her appearance comes months after she publicly revealed allegations of sexual assault by fellow United Farm Workers co-founder Cesar Chavez.

Huerta underscored the urgency of the current moment, warning of broader political challenges.

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"Well, I think it's a very crucial moment in our country we know we are facing a regime of fascism and we all need to be together," she said.

Organizers said the summit is designed to extend beyond LGBTQ+ issues and highlight overlapping struggles affecting multiple communities.

"We all know that we're still facing, you know, on all sides of us. We see our rights are under attack. And so I really think that you can see the conversation with Dolores Huerta being here this afternoon, we're actively finding ways to resist," said Suzanne Ford, executive director of SF Pride.

Ford said the event aims to push people beyond symbolic support.

"We're at the intersection of all of this when you're fighting for justice, whether it's immigrant rights, whether it's racism, or LGBTQ rights. Often we intersect. And I think it's important to make sure that we're explaining why you should care about queer rights and why you should care about immigrant rights," she said.

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Attendees said the summit offers a chance to reflect on the deeper purpose of Pride celebrations.

"I think that grounding it before we kick off all the parties in what is at stake for us, who are we as a community? reminding us of the history of revolution and liberation, and that this is really about advocating for our human rights," said Veronica Keiffer-Lewis, who attended the event.

Speakers and participants pointed to Huerta as an example of sustained activism across movements.

"I feel like she's a symbol for so many of us. In particular, you know, folks in marginalized communities that have multiple intersecting identities that the cost is a lot and that there's so much that we don't share. But it's still there and I really thought was important to just be in her space," said Julie Keiffer-Lewis, a presenter at the summit.

The event brought together community members and advocates, setting the tone for Pride weekend with a focus on solidarity and continued advocacy.