By Maria Vasquez-Aguilar
I have distinct memories of standing in the ‘hole in the road’ in Sheffield as a young child giving out leaflets with my Mum. This was the early 1980s and the UK solidarity movement with Chile was in full swing.
Sheffield and Rotherham TUCs signed up to the adopt a political prisoner programme, which helped people get out of prison and supported their journey to refuge abroad. The Labour councils in both cities, along with the Joint Working Group, helped Chileans resettle and grants from the World University Service enabled many to study at Sheffield’s two universities. Trade unions such as the National Union of Mineworkers and the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers also helped Chileans get jobs and educated their membership on the Chilean people’s struggle.
Support was at a grassroots level and wide-ranging, often in direct opposition to government policy, particularly when Thatcher was elected in 1979. I remember people bringing us clothes and furniture, helping my parents get us into school – everyday things that most people take for granted; but when you are newly arrived in a country, do not speak the language and are fleeing persecution, having people help in the smallest way make a big difference.
Keen to support the resistance back home, many Chileans (re)joined their political parties in exile and worked together with the local Chile solidarity campaigns, Chile Committee for Human Rights, local party activists, the labour movement, students and academics and local groups, such as the formidable collective of women behind the Common Ground, to name but a few.
Concerts, meetings, film showings, marches and fundraisers were held regularly in Sheffield. Following ‘Tencha’ Allende, Allende’s widow, visiting the city, the Chilean community successfully campaigned for a road to be named after the late President. Allende Way exists to this day.
Campaigning by the exiles in Sheffield was not limited just to Chile. The community also supported national campaigns, such as the miners’ strike of 1984-85, as well as international ones, such as the Anti-apartheid movement. So it was no surprise that they went on to form Sheffield Latin America Solidarity Front (SLASF) along with local activists, which brought together the solidarity campaign for Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba and others.
People outside of activist circles may not know how tight-knit these circles can be, especially in a city such as Sheffield, which despite its size feels likes a large village. You may not always agree, and you may be part of different groups, but in fighting on the same issues together, you get to know each other, and as you march on those demonstrations often sharing a platform, a kinship grows.
Therefore, when I was looking to organise a programme of events for this year, the 50th anniversary of the Chilean coup, I instinctively knew I had to reach out to those compañeros, with whom I’ve stood with on activities on many a rainy day. Some of these I have known from being a child at these events. And Sheffield did not let me down.
Not only have local organisations such as the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) come forward, but so have newer groups such as Community Kino, Alborada, Sheffield Left and Student Action for Chile Human Rights. Together we have had events at Migration Matters and the Festival of Debate.
And of course, the trade unions as always have been present; with Unite the Community and University of Shefield UCU inviting us to speak at their meetings and teach-outs and offering their support for Chile 50 Years UK. In fact, Sheffield TUC was the first to pledge support for this year’s large rally and march, which they did on 11th September 2022.
Local branches of parties such as the Green Party, Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party, Communist Party of Britain and Constituency Labour Parties have all come forward too, holding their own commemorative events and offering resources to enable ours to happen. The Sheffield Green Party have agreed to pay for a tree and a commemorative stone in honour of our disappeared. International-looking groups such as the Sheffield Cuba Solidarity Campaign and Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign have helped us spread the word, and as always with any great movements, musicians are supporting us, from street bands to Ceilidh and Chilean folk!
Because that is what solidarity is about, and on Saturday 9th September, all these groups and hopefully more, will be joining us in a march and rally in commemoration of the 11th September 1973 coup and in celebration of the tremendous support we received 50 years ago.
Little did Pinochet know, that when he exiled thousands of us, thousands more would join us in our demands for truth, justice and memory.
Maria Vasquez-Aguilar is Co-founder of Chile Solidarity Network and Chile 50 Years UK.
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