Today is the anniversary of the American and western backed fascist coup that overthrew the democratically elected leftist government of Salvador Allende. Allende died resisting the coup during the military attack on the Presidential Palace, September 11, 1973.
We remember and honour Allende who embodied the highest example of heroism.
We remember as well the many years of heroism, resistance and sacrifice by the Chilean people in the face of the brutality and cruelty of General Pinochet and the military dictatorship.
Today, from this free territory in America, we can tell the comrade President: your people will not surrender, your people will not furl the flag of revolution; the battle to the death against fascism has started, and it will end the day we have the free, sovereign and socialist Chile for which you fought and gave your life. - Beatriz Allende, Chilean Revolutionary and daughter of Salvador Allende, at a mass rally in Havana, September 28, 1973.
Chile has been left a great banner, and extraordinary figure: the banner and the immortal figure of President Allende!
President Allende has given his people the highest example of heroism he could offer. - Fidel Castro at a mass rally, Havana, September 28, 1973
Eternal glory to Salvador Allende, who stands with Che, Marti, Bolivar, Sucre, San Martin, O'Higgins, Morelos, Hidalgo, Juarez, and all the other giants who dedicated their lives to liberty in the continent! - Fidel Castro, September 28, 1973
Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Go forward knowing that, sooner rather than later, the great avenues will open again where free men will walk to build a better society.
Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!
These are my last words, and I am certain that my sacrifice will not be in vain, I am certain that, at the very least, it will be a moral lesson that will punish felony, cowardice, and treason. - Salvador Allende, September 11, 1973.
(All images and text from a leaflet published in Cuba, 1973)
I can't say I'm "glad" to remember that, as it was utterly horrible. I knew people there, both Chileans and Québécois who had travelled to the other end of America in solidarity. But it is important to remember it. I do remember the office workers murdered in NYC as well (no love for fundamentalist jihadis, any more than fundie christian evangelicals in the US) but refuse to let their deaths be used as an excuse for imperialist wars. The French singer Renaud has a good song about that, featuring a young Puerto Rican man working atop the tower and an Afghan girl murdered in its wake.