Actresses Jane Fonda and Eva Longoria have paid emotional tributes to legendary civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, remembering her as a fierce advocate for justice, a feminist icon, and a transformative mentor whose loss leaves an irreplaceable void in the movement she helped define.

Jane Fonda: 'Courage and Feminism Personified'

Fonda described herself as 'heartbroken' over Huerta's passing, highlighting her pivotal role in securing better wages, healthcare, retirement benefits, and safer working conditions for labourers. In a post on Instagram, Fonda wrote: 'I am heartbroken. In a year of major losses this is a big one. But I know this: Dolores Huerta's powerful, fierce spirit will always be with us. Every time we say Sí se puede she will be with us.'

Fonda recalled Huerta as 'often the only female in the negotiating rooms,' a woman who 'seized' power in a world of machismo rather than being handed it. 'It was she who won contracts that went far beyond wages to include healthcare, retirement benefits, safer working conditions,' Fonda wrote. 'She was one of the first to raise the banner of environmental justice. And she did it all while raising 14 children.'

Fonda also shared photographs — one from a Fire Drill Friday rally in Washington DC in 2019 featuring Huerta alongside herself, Roshi Joan Halifax, and Gloria Steinem, and another described as a 'three generations of activists' image taken earlier this year. 'Nalleli and I pledge to carry on the Dolores mantra,' Fonda wrote, referencing frontline activist Nalleli Cobo.

Eva Longoria: 'My Mentor, My Teacher of Life'

Longoria's tribute was deeply personal, describing Huerta as far more than a public icon. 'To me, Dolores was so much more than an icon. She was my mentor, my teacher of life, and one of the greatest examples of what it means to be a human being,' Longoria wrote on Instagram. 'She taught me that a life of purpose is a life of service.'

Longoria said Huerta embodied the principle that 'one person, armed with conviction, compassion, and an unwavering belief in justice, can change the world.' She described the loss as leaving 'an enormous void — a space that can never truly be filled,' but noted that Huerta's legacy endures through every person she inspired and every barrier she broke.

Closing her tribute with the activist's signature rallying cry, Longoria wrote: 'Gracias, Dolores. Por todo. Sí, se puede. Siempre' — Thank you, Dolores. For everything. Yes, we can. Always.

Who Was Dolores Huerta

Dolores Huerta was a co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) alongside César Chávez and one of the most influential labour and civil rights figures in American history. Her rallying cry, 'Sí, se puede' — later adapted by Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign as 'Yes We Can' — became a symbol of grassroots organising across generations. Huerta was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

Her activism spanned decades, from farmworker rights in California in the 1960s to environmental justice and gender equality advocacy into the 21st century. She continued speaking and organising well into her 90s, remaining a visible and combative voice for marginalised communities.

A Legacy That Outlasts Her

Tributes from Fonda and Longoria reflect the breadth of Huerta's influence — from Hollywood to frontline activism to mainstream political movements. Both women specifically cited her as a living bridge between generations of justice advocates. As Longoria put it, 'the extraordinary thing about Dolores is that her life's work lives on in every person she inspired.' The outpouring of grief signals that Huerta's movement, even without her, is far from over.