BUENOS AIRES – Thousands of Argentine students took to the streets of Buenos Aires today, continuing a decades-long tradition of marching to demand justice for victims of the country’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship. The annual presentation commemorates the anniversary of the coup that initiated the “Dirty War,” a period marked by state-sponsored terrorism, widespread human rights abuses, and the forced disappearance of an estimated 30,000 people.
The protests underscore Argentina‘s ongoing struggle to reconcile with its past and hold perpetrators accountable. While recent trials have yielded meaningful verdicts, including ten life sentences handed down this week in an emblematic dictatorship case, activists emphasize the need for continued investigations and prosecutions to ensure no crime goes unpunished. The marches also serve as a powerful statement against impunity and a call for extensive truth and memory initiatives to prevent future atrocities.
The march, a fixture in Argentine civic life for 48 years, began at the plaza de Mayo, the historic center of political demonstrations, and proceeded towards the former detention center, ESMA – a notorious site where thousands were illegally imprisoned, tortured, and murdered. Participants carried banners bearing the faces of the disappeared and chanted slogans demanding justice and remembrance.
“We march for memory, truth, and justice,” said a student organizer, speaking to The Real News.”We are the generation that inherits this struggle. we must continue to demand accountability for the crimes of the past so that they are never repeated.”
This week’s sentencing, reported by the Buenos Aires Herald, involved high-ranking military officials convicted of crimes against humanity committed at the Campo de Mayo detention center. The verdicts represent a crucial step forward in the pursuit of justice, but activists maintain that many cases remain unresolved and that systemic obstacles continue to hinder investigations. The ongoing marches demonstrate the unwavering commitment of Argentine society, particularly its youth, to confronting the legacy of dictatorship and building a future founded on respect for human rights.
