Los Angeles residents gather to honor Dolores Huerta

LOS ANGELES (NBC, KYMA) - Hundreds gathered in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night to honor the life of civil rights leader Dolores Huerta.

Huerta's family released a statement saying, "We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96."

"As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family," the statement added.

She was a well-known activist for improving working conditions for farmworkers and championing the rights of marginalized communities.

Huerta also co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s.

Following the news of Huerta's passing, LA residents and political figures, like Mayor Karen Bass, attended a vigil to honor Huerta's life and legacy.

"Today, we mourn a great loss for our nation, the loss of an American hero," said State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-District 26).

"Dolores Huerta was an icon…a mentor, a friend, a leader, a guide to so many people," Mayor Bass expressed.

"You think of somebody that was small in stature, but a giant in fighting for other people's rights, people who didn't have a voice," said Sheriff Robert Luna with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"We are all struggling for the same thing and that is, you know, freedom and dignity to be able to live our lives with our families in ways that any human being would want. And so she really underscored that for her whole life," Khalid Hudson with CARE-LA.

"I come from an indigenous community that has deep roots in the Central Valley of California, where she organized with them. So I know that sometimes the history tends to focus on the men in the movement. But we're here to pay tribute to women that left a legacy," said Luis Lopez, an LA resident.

"She once told me that to pass legislation she asked the janitors where some of the legislators were in order to find them to get their vote. It's stuff like that, that I think those stories and that narrative is so important for the next generation," said Susie Shannon, another LA resident.

"I would not be the sheriff of Los Angeles County if it wasn't for one, how much she fought for minorities like my family and I. My mother comes from a farm worker family. And then her personal commitment to me during my campaigns to become sheriff, she was right there with me," Sheriff Luna shared.

"As I saw her get older and I said to her a number of times, Dolores, you have given so much. Can you rest? And she said, 'Karen, there is too much to do. I absolutely cannot stop. Not until justice is met,'" Bass added.

"I think that we all have a responsibility. to have like a brotherhood and a sisterhood and to stand up for each other," said Arlene Garcia, another LA resident.

"Let us go out and be of service, let us go out and fight for justice, and let us never rest until the work is done," said LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

Huerta was 96-years-old.