Blockade Arms Shipments to El Salvador

The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) was fighting a national liberation war against the US backed military government in El Salvador. Women made up 40% of the FMLN. They were commanders, fighters, doctors, and teachers. The FMLN established the Salvadoran Women’s Association (AMES) in order to facilitate women’s empowerment.

In 1979 the Sandinistas established the Nicaraguan women’s association (AMNLAE) which established childcare centers, health brigades, community laundries, dining rooms and set up job training programs for women in non-traditional fields. In 1981, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in Nicaragua was fighting a war against counter-revolutionary groups (CONTRAS) directed by the CIA. Despite being under attack by the US, the Sandinistas slashed illiteracy by 80%, distributed 1.7 million acres of land to 31,000 families, and made healthcare a right.. By 1984, the FMLN had formed six women’s associations throughout Nicaragua to provide political education, self-defense training, and teach women new job skills, as well as organizing centers for caring for refugee children.

Note:  We worked on this poster with a guest artist. Please contact us if you are that artist or know the artist!

Image: Drawing of the torsos of two people linking arms—shown from the back, the left person includes a partial drawing of the person’s head with words about the event centered in the top central portion of the poster.

Words: Blockade Arms Shipments to El Salvador, Sunday May 1, Concord Naval Weapon Station, March with the People of El Salvador, Assemble 11:00 am Main Gate for March, Civil Disobedience and Legal Protest. No Contra Aid.

Color: red and green ink on white paper

Event Date: Sunday, May 1, 1988

Event Sponsors: Bay Area Pledge of Resistance, San Francisco C.I.S.P.E.S, Oakland/Berkeley C.I.S.P.E.S, Winning Democracy Campaign.

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