Argentina: Military Dictatorship Victims Will Not Be Forgotten

The Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo launched a massive march on March 24 on the 43 anniversary of the 1976 U.S.-backed military coup, known as the Dirty War, during which time, about 30,000 persons were arrested and disappeared.

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"Forty-three years after the military coup, everybody to the Plaza!" the Mothers' Association said, adding despite efforts by several right-wing governments have tried to erase what transpired, "our memories build our homeland" and Argentina's history.

Now a commorative date in Argentine history, on the "Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice," human rights defenders, workers, politicians and students will stage two marches towards the Plaza de Mayo.

The first will begin at 2:00 pm, headed by the Grandmothers and Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. One hour later, left parties and organizations like the Coordinator against Police and Institutional Repression (Correpi) will congregate outside the National Congress before marching to the Plaza de Mayo. Other marches will also take place throughout the country, local media LV12 and ViaPais reported.

"March 24, a new anniversary of the genocidal coup and the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo will be on the street, next to the people, as they have been for almost 42 years. Yesterday against the military, today against those who sell the country. 43 years after the coup, the fight continues."

During the pair of demonstrations, Argentines wil also be protesting the nation's current economic crisis, which has only grown worse under President Mauricio Macri's administration.

"On Sunday, March 24, we will take to the streets again in repudiation of the genocidal coup of 76, against the repression and impunity of yesterday and today," said Johana Gomez, leader of the Socialist Workers' Party. The march is also against "adjustments... imposed by the IMF and executed by Macri ... and in rejection of the interference of US imperialism in Venezuela and Latin America," Gomez added.