Every Thursday for the past 36 years, the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo have marched in front at the Plaza de Mayo in order to demand information regarding the fate of their lost relatives, who were “disappeared” by the military junta that ruled Argentina from 1976-1983, a period referred to as the “Dirty War”. The Dirty War was a period of state terrorism in Argentina against political dissidents during which an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 citizens were kidnapped and killed. Among those disappeared include the sons or daughters of the initial group of 14 mothers that founded the Mothers. Previously, the mothers had first crossed paths when searching for their disappeared children. Eventually, they decided to meet up regularly wherever they could in order to compare information and, eventually, strategize. Finally, on April 30, 1977, the mothers assembled on the square at the Plaza de Mayo.

Though demonstrations were illegal, the mothers grabbed each other in pairs, arm to arm, and began walking in a circle around the square, which in itself was not illegal. And with that, a movement was born. Though the Mothers’ protest attracted little attention at first, they became emboldened, and decided to organize a march around the plaza every Thursday afternoon. Each week, they did exactly that, prompting questions from observers and allowing the Mothers to raise awareness of what had happened to their children, spread their message, and gain supporters. Eventually, their numbers grew from the 14 initial mothers to hundreds of men, women, and children who, like the Mothers, had relatives who were “disappeared” by the government.

Of course, the government eventually took notice, attempted to suppress the movement. Three of the founding members of the Mothers were detained, taken to a detention center, and eventually killed. Despite this intense repression, the protests continued. They agreed to return every Thursday until they were either killed or the truth about the “disappeared” was revealed and those responsible were punished. By 1980, the government was showing signs of collapse. When the Mothers had begun their protests, they were one of the only, if not the only open, public form of resistance to the military regime. Now, they were joined by hundreds of others who were emboldened by their example. In 1983, after 7 years of appalling human rights abuses, the military finally relinquished power to a democratic government. The bravery of the Mothers had provided a ray of hope during the oppressive military regime, giving others the courage to stand up as well. After the institution of the new democratic government came the task of bringing justice to those who had committed abuses during the Dirty War. In 1985, the Trial of the Juntas began, in which several high-ranking military officers were convicted of crimes and sentenced, including the leader of military during the junta, Jorge Rafael Videla.

However, because corruption and abuse were so widespread in all levels of the military during the Dirty War, the military threatened another coup in order to prevent more prosecutions. In order to preserve Argentina’s fragile democracy, newly-elected President Raúl Alfonsín passed the Full Stop Law and the Law of Due Obedience, two pieces of legislation that essentially exempted those who committed abuses during the junta from being punished. Furthermore, in 1989, new president Carlos Menem pardoned those convicted in the Trial of the Juntas in a move designed to “rebuild” and “heal” Argentina, which was attempting to move forward with democracy. Despite these injustices, the Mothers continued to march in protest. Fortunately, some measure of justice was achieved in 2003 when the Pardon Laws (as the 1986 legislation was referred to) were repealed by Congress, and in 2005 when the Argentinian Supreme Court declared them unconstitutional. The government re-opened prosecution of abuses, allowing former officials to be brought to justice. However, the remains of vast majority of the “disappeared” have still not been found. Neither convicted military officials nor current government representatives have given any indication as to where the bodies might be.

Thus, the Madres of the Plaza De Mayo continue to march for justice every Thursday. I had the opportunity to witness their weekly demonstration not too long ago. Though the Mothers were old and frail, their demonstration nonetheless was moving and powerful, and a large crowd of people both young and old gathered to watch. It is due in part to the strength and courage of the Mothers that Argentina is today a democracy and not a dictatorship, and they serve as a constant beacon of courage, justice, and liberty.