Every year, on March 24th, Salvadorans commemorate the life and legacy of Óscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, assassinated in 1980 by U.S.-backed death squads.
Last weekend, organizations invoked Romero to denounce “severe rollbacks” in human rights that echo the years of the armed conflict. Under two years of an illegal State of Exception, the Bukele government has detained 78,000 people without due process, more than 200 of whom have died in custody, many showing signs of torture.
As Ana Moreno, coordinator of the Monseñor Romero Committee of San Vicente, told the press, “Romero raised his voice against repression. That same voice is now being spoken from heaven for the countless human rights violations and for the various cases of crimes against humanity that remain unpunished.”
To understand the impacts of the State of Exception and Bukele’s policy of militarizing communities, including many leftist strongholds, we recently teamed up with Global Exchange, journalist John Gibler, and other allies for a special webcast: “Two Years of Organized Resistance to El Salvador’s State of Exception.” You can check out the recording in English here.
Just as he challenged U.S. support for the military regime in El Salvador, Romero also defended the people’s right to organize – and its importance. “When popular organizations are attacked, we know with what purpose” he said. “Because a disorganized people is like dough that can be played with, but a people who are organized and defend their values, who defend justice, are a people who command respect.”
It’s no surprise that in his quest for absolute power, Bukele is targeting leaders of the popular movement: unionists, students, land defenders and others. One of the most emblematic cases is that of the Santa Marta 5, well-known anti-mining activists who are being charged for alleged participation in crimes dating back to El Salvador’s civil war—for which no evidence has been provided.
Despite constant national and international outcry over the past 14 months since their arrest, the Attorney General is moving forward with the charges and the trial is set to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3.
We need your help to call on the Attorney General to drop the charges, especially on social media. Will you help make our collective solidarity visible?
If you’re on social media, please take action with these 3 easy steps:
- On a sheet of paper or poster board, write a short statement of solidarity like:
- Drop the charges against the Santa Marta 5!
- International solidarity is with the Santa Marta 5!
- The diaspora is watching! Free the anti-mining activists of all charges!
- Keep El Salvador metallic mining-free!
- Take a picture OR make a short video clip (no more than 30 seconds) with your sign
- Post your pic/video on your social media! Include the hashtags: #SantaMarta5 #SantaMartaNoEstáSola #DropTheChargesSM5 #DiásporaConSantaMarta5 and tag the Salvadoran Attorney General: @FGR_SV and Salvadoran organizations supporting the Santa Marta 5: @ades_sm @no_mineria_sv @somosagua @acafremin @CSantaMarta1987
We will be sure to send updates later this week – thank you for your solidarity!
¡Romero vive!
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 