Making it Real

 

The military government of Argentina during the “Dirty War” abducted, tortured and killed anyone they claimed were “subversives,” including all political opponents of the regime.  Many of the dissenters were idealistic young people, students and gifted adults.  The 30,000 kidnapped people became referred to as the “disappeared.”   Some 500 abducted pregnant women were kept alive long enough to give birth.  Their  babies were given to high ranking military families.  The government obliterated any records that would help the families find the bodies or reclaim their grandchildren.   Those who spoke out put their lives in danger.   A group of mothers who were looking for their missing children began to protest weekly outside the government HQ in non-violent demonstrations.     

 

Twelve of the first protesters disappeared themselves, never to be heard of again. Police attacked the mothers with teargas and nightsticks.  Later, when the police arrested one of their members during a march, 60 mothers stampeded into the police station, shouting, "If you take one, you have to take us all.”   The press,  under the control of the junta, labelled them “The Crazy Ones”.    But the movement grew and drew international attention.