Story & Photos: Saleema Imam
On Wednesday 11th September members of Sheffield’s Chilean community braved the rain to congregate outside the Town Hall to mark the 40th anniversary of the coup which replaced the democracy led by President Salvador Allende with the dictatorship of Pinochet
Over 30,000 people were imprisoned, many tortured or killed and 2,500 others just ‘disappeared’ without trace. The faces of some of those are featured on the placards on show. Around 1million people were exiled, some of whom were welcomed to Sheffield in the 1970s. Many eventually returned to Chile, but others remained, bringing up children and grandchildren and becoming valued members of our local community.
The Cueca – Chile’s national dance – was performed and brought tears to the eyes of many of the older members of the watching crowd. Sheffield City Council had been asked to fly the Chilean flag for the day but the request was refused.