SOA Watch

During the past 2 years of my life and work in rural El Salvador, I lived a short walk from a community-built chapel named to honor a young man, Octavio Ortiz Luna, who had grown up in the surrounding poor community.  As a youth, he did the normal activities such as farming in the surrounding mountains, attending the small school, and hauling water from the community well.  His family, though poor, was widely respected for their commitment to the well-being of the community.  Octavio received a scholarship to go to seminary, a rare opportunity for rural youth, and studied to enter the priesthood.

Map of El Salvador overlaid with the faces of El Salvador's martyrs

He was the first priest ordained by Oscar Romero after Romero was consecrated as archbishop.  Octavio began working in a parish called San Antonio Abad near the capital city of San Salvador.  He was a spiritual advisor, a supporter of the base Christian communities and especially the youth, and above all, he was sensitive to the problems of the oppressed.  At a time when it was dangerous to do so, he worked against the powers to promote the rights of poor Salvadorans.

On January 20, 1979, Octavio, who was only 35 years old, was leading a retreat for 40 young men and women in his parish.  Near dawn, the police and army charged into the meeting and brutally assassinated Octavio and 4 of the youth.  The army was accompanied by other paramilitary groups parked outside in assault vehicles and tanks.  According to the official version, the army had responded to an armed confrontation.  They released a false report on television, putting firearms in the hands of Octavio and the youth.

"Struggling for a better world"

Archbishop Oscar Romero presided over the funeral of Octavio and the youth.  Twenty thousand Salvadorans and 100 priests gathered over the martyrs’ bodies.  All of the churches in the country closed their doors for 3 days, and the religious and social groups committed more than ever before to work to “convert the noise of machine guns into hope.” The story of Octavio, one of many leaders assassinated for their work for the rights of the poor in El Salvador, impacts me particularly deeply.  I know his family, I know the community where he grew up, and I too worked with young people in El Salvador.  Ana Ortiz, the director of the non-profit with which I worked in El Salvador, is the sister of Octavio, and her 3 other brothers were likewise assassinated in the struggle of the poor against the political and economic powers during the 1980s in El Salvador.   She continues until this day the work begun by her brothers for the poor in the base Christian communities.

The assassins of Octavio and the four youth were part of the Salvadoran army whose commanders were trained at the School of the Americas.  I come to the School of the Americas this weekend to remember individuals like Octavio Ortiz who have been targeted by graduates of the School for their very work for the poor in Latin America.  I also come to honor those like my friends Anita, Mercedes, Juan, Miguel, Armando, and Delmy who carry on the brave and tireless work for a better life for the poor in El Salvador.  I come for the activities of the weekend: the vigil, the protest, documentaries about the struggles of the social movement in Latin America, and the crowds of people who care about the people of the countries that share our continent of America.  I come expecting to experience a sense of familiarity to the work in El Salvador: honoring the martyrs of the long struggle for justice, resisting the mega proyectos de muerte (massive death projects), the radical Catholic “church of the poor,” community, and celebration.

Thank you to the Union community who worked so hard to prepare yesterday’s commissioning service that was a blessing to me as it evoked the spirit of honoring our martyrs and continuing the resistance in their stead.  I decided to come to Union partially because I anticipated finding a community concerned about these same issues that inspire me, and yesterday’s service far superseded my expectations.  I feel it deep in my heart that you go with us.

Also, a special shout out to those special Unionites who were our send-off party this morning, who prepared our yummy care package and bread, who helped us set up the blog, and who found our “chariot.”