The U.S. Movement in Solidarity with Chile in the 1970s

The international movement in solidarity with Chile that developed and flourished in the 1970s first emerged when the Unidad Popular government of Salvador Allende (1970—1973) was still in power but gained strength after the Chilean military overthrew the government and imposed the military dictatorship that ruled that country from 1973 to 1990. The power of the movement stems from the historical context in which it arose, the tremendous appeal exerted by the Allende government, North Americans’ familiarity with and support for the UP government, the outrage and horror many felt at the atrocities committed by the dictatorship, and the presence of Chilean political refugees in the United States. The work that the solidarity movement engaged in ranged from securing entry for political refugees and direct action against the Chilean ship Esmeralda to raising funds for the Chilean resistance through cultural programs. While political tensions among the refugees undermined the movement to a degree, the presence of the refugees brought their experience into the lives of North Americans and inspired them to support the Chilean resistance.