Huerta, the oldest 2026 TIME100 honoree at the age of 96, fought for the rights of farmworkers in California and around the U.S., as well as advocating for a number of other causes. She is also well known for coining the slogan “Sí, se puede”—or, in translation, “yes, we can”—which became a widely used battle cry for activists.

The ethos at the heart of that slogan shone through in Huerta’s remarks on Thursday. “A peaceful world is possible,” she said. “A world where we could have sharing the wealth that we have, cooperation, assisting everybody that needs the assistance … We just need the will, the perseverance, and we need the proper political representation, people that are dedicated to peaceful solutions for our world.” 

Working people, she emphasized, are integral to achieving this vision.