March 24, 1976

Yesterday was an historic day in Argentina. 30 years ago the government was taken over by dictators who in the following years killed or "disappeared" 30,000 people. It was decided this year, the 30th anniversary, that March 24 will be a national holiday from here on out in memoriam of this time in history, what people have dubbed "Una Larga Noche." Since that time there has been a group of women who gather every Thursday in the Plaza de Mayo, the mothers and grandmothers of the disappeared, whose sons or grandsons were taken by the government. They wear white bandanas over their heads and carry photos of their loved ones. They have kept this up for 30 years!

For the first time ever there was a giant march where Las Madres de La Plaza were honored, and people from all over, from varied groups, were marching to remember Los Desaparecidos. I went with my friend Kylie and we watched the march from 5 til 8:30. During that time the crowd swelled to over 10o,ooo people. The marchers went all the way down Avenida 25 de Mayo. At 7pm Las Madres came through in a long column with a big bandera with photos of los desaparecidos stuck to it that they carried over their head. It was an incredible sight. As they came in the people were shouting "Las Madres de La Plaza, Nos Dimos Un Abrazo" (we give you a hug, we embrace you...). Then the march continued with speeches and chanting, mostly calling for equal rights for all.

The crown was full of people of all ages and walks of life. The spirit was really good, the crowd had "una buena honda," like a good feeling, and while we were there it felt really good to be a part of Argentine history.