FINAL Flashcards
Archbishop Oscar Romero
A priest of the Catholic Church in El Salvador, he was the fourth Archbishop on San Salvador. He was known for speaking out against poverty, social injustice and the growing war between left-wing and right-wing forces. He was known for criticizing the US government for their support of the repressive military in El Salvador during the 1970s and 1980s. Becomes a voice for the voiceless. “if they kill me, i will rise again the salvadoran people” canonized as catholic saint
Rutilio Grande
A jesuit priest in El Salvador, he was assasinated in 1977. He focused on advocating for land reform, social justice, and empowerment of the rural poor. He would challenge the oppressive system in El Salvador, including the oligarchy and the military dictatorship. After he was assassinated he acted as a martyr for people like Archbishop Romero. He was also known for challenging the government when he felt they were trying to harass and silence Salvadorian priests.
Jesuits and UCA Massacre
During the Salvadoran civil war, in 1989 Salvadoran army soldiers killed 6 jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and the housekeepers 16 year old daughter at the university of central America in El Salvador. The priests were killed because they spoke out against the government and advocated for the poor. A trial was conducted in 1991. The murders were ordered by officers of the Salvadoran army, but only 2 of the 9 members were actually convicted of the crime, however only served 2 years as they were freed in 1993.
4 US churchwomen (Ford, Donovan, Clark, Kazel)
In 1980, 4 american churchwoman were made victims of violence toward church members who sided with the poor in El Salvador. the slogan “Be a patriot, kill a priest” became a battle cry for the salvadoran right wing extremists who believed that anyone who opposed the military regime was a communist. Before their murders, the 4 witnessed the violent repression against salvadoran peasants and workers, this made them change their mission which was originally teaching salvadorans how to be better catholics, to deciding to live with, support, and follow the lead of marginalized communities, they wanted to address the poor as well as their needs, their dedication to the people kept them in el salvador despite the danger. US government said they were hiding guns under their clothes
El Mozote massacre
In December of 1981, around 900 people were brutally murdered, about half were minors, by an elite salvadoran military unit alled the BIRI Atlacatl along with the command center of SF Gotera and the help of air forces. The operation was called “operation rescue”. The murder took place because a few people in the village were expected to be “associated with the left” and they believed there was a training camp in El Mozote belonging to their counter-insurgency. This is the largest massacre to occur in Latin America. The operation was reported back as a success. One of the only survivors of this massacre was Rufina Amaya
La Matanza
Spanish for “the massacre”. La matanza refers to a communist indigenous rebellion that took place in El Salvador in 1932. Members of the communist party launched a rebellion against the salvadoran military government due to widespread social unrest and the supression of democratic freedoms, the communist party wanted better living and working conditions, a lot of the communist party were peasants who were part of the indigenous population. the strike was followed by large-scale government killings in western el salvador which led to the deaths of between 10-40,000 people, or 4% of the population in 1 week. The government then proceeded to ban indigenous culture items, and idigenous people were forced to hide all outward signs of their identity.
Farabunda Marti
One of the most prominent revolutionary figures in Latin American history. Responsible for organizing peasants and laborers in El Salvador to resist exploitation, and was instrumental in launching the 1932 Salvadoran Peasant uprising, “La Matanza”, but during it he was arrested and executed by the salvadoran government. he addressed many issues surrounding social justice, political oppression, and economic exploitation, which are also prominent in the fight for Chicano rights. shot and killed along with 30,000 people in matanza.
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front
A left winged political party in El Salvador that became legal at the end of the country’s civil war in 1992. The FMLN was created as the paramilitary arm of the democratic revolution front. Throughout the 1980s, it’s members fought in battles against salvadoran government troops who were trained and supplied but the US. The Chapultepex peace accords were signed by the salvadoran government and the FMLN in jan of 1992 and became one of the country’s prominent political parties.
Rufina Amaya
sole survivor of the 1981 massacre in El Mozote who spoke out. Her account was essential in understanding the attack. She only escaped because as they were rounding up the woman she escaped and hid behind some trees in the back of the houses while her children were being killed. She then spent most of her life recounting the horrors of the massacre and advocating for the rights of survivors. US still undermines her story
Roberto Garay Saravia
retired salvadoran military officer who was arrested for alleged involvement in the El Mozote massacre. He was arrested in New Jersey and was immediately deported, it is said that he was also a part of 3 other massacres.
Todd Greentree
Foreign service officer in El Salvador, angola, afghanistan and other countries in conflict. he’s a member of the changing character of war center at oxford. He wrote “what went wrong if afghanistan” he argues that the afghan war wa unwinnable the way it was fought, and poses an alternative approach to the counterinsurgency in el salvador during the final decade of the cold war.
School of the Americas (SOA)
A US army center that has trained more than 60,000 soldiers and police , mostly from latin america, in counterinsurgency and combat related skills since it was founded in 1946. Several individuals who were associated with the el mozote massacre recieved training from the SOA. Among them, was Colonel Domingo Monterrosa, who was the commandor of th unit responsible for the massacre. The people responsible for the Churchwomans death also are also linked to the SOA. Many want the school to close down, as it is linked to the violation of human rights in latin america as well as supporting undemocratic governments in latin america.
School of the Americas Awareness Week
an annual event that is organized by activists and human rights orginazations to raise awareness about the history of the SOA. The event aims to bring awareness to the role the SOA has played in training military personnel from latin america and its connection to human rights abuses. During this week protests, vigils and guest speakers are featured to raise awareness. the general purpose is to mobilize induvidual to take action to address the concerns related to the SOA, as well as promote respect for human rights in the americas.
Crossing the Line(s)
Crossing the line into what could potentially be dangerous and into unknown territory. Prof talks about crossing the line when him and his class when to protest the SOA, how he wanted to but had his wife, home, kid and job to think about. It’s really hard to make the decision to cross the line, and many people can’t because they have a lot to lose. Cross the line and get arrested
Another world, Another Classroom is Possible
when prof took the kids on the field trip, or did hands on learning. It effects students so much more to actually be put in the throw of things, instead of just being lectured at in a classroom. An example is when he took the students on a field trip and they got to experience being a part of the protests against the SOA.
Casas de Carton
Song played in Voces Inocentes, the movie about a young boy escaping the civil war in El Salvador. The song talks about the struggles of people living in casas de carton (cardboard houses) and how sad it is to hear the rain on the roofs, knowing that it is not long till they collapse and/or the house floods. It explains the challenges of the working class and how people with money don’t help them, and no one seems to care. He talks about how little hope there is for the people living in these conditions, as any hope feels far and hard to grasp because any hope they have of a better future is always dragged down by the current level of their suffering.
