4-06. Political Work: CISPES and El Salvador
Title
4-06. Political Work: CISPES and El Salvador
Subject
Description
In this recording, part of a larger video memoir project, lifetime activist and educator Suzanne Ross speaks more her involvement in the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador during the 1980s.
From Suzanne: "I worked in CISPES 1981–1985 and played different leadership roles in that period. The U.S. was trying to stop the revolutionary movement and progressive forces from overthrowing the control the right-wing forces had over the government. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation forces (FMLN) a coalition of five organizations, led this struggle and were responding to the right wing’s assassination of Archbishop Romero, the rape and murder of five progressive US nuns, and the killings of hundreds of young revolutionaries. The organization led demonstrations in New York, particularly at the Salvadoran Consulate in Manhattan, in Washington, with a huge demonstration on March 27, 1982, and offered support to the Salvadoran struggle however it could. At one point, when the US decided to train Savaldoran troops in the US, we promptly organized a bus filled it with our members and allies and drove down to Fort Bragg, the site of the training, and went on the site chanting against this escalation of the US intervention.
From the beginning of my work with CISPES in 1981 it was exciting to have huge numbers of young people involved, willing to do things militantly and on the spur of the moment. Our street presence was impressive.
I was concerned about the all-white composition of the organization and the Salvadoran leadership’s lack of understanding of the role of the Black movement and other movements of color in political work and movements in the US. This meant focusing primarily on the white peace movement and, I felt, particularly neglecting the movements of people of color. This was the picture in NYC and to a large extent the national picture as well.
My relationship to CISPES ended in bitter conflict with my leaving the organization over this last issue. This conflict became most dramatic and heated over the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign."
From Suzanne: "I worked in CISPES 1981–1985 and played different leadership roles in that period. The U.S. was trying to stop the revolutionary movement and progressive forces from overthrowing the control the right-wing forces had over the government. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation forces (FMLN) a coalition of five organizations, led this struggle and were responding to the right wing’s assassination of Archbishop Romero, the rape and murder of five progressive US nuns, and the killings of hundreds of young revolutionaries. The organization led demonstrations in New York, particularly at the Salvadoran Consulate in Manhattan, in Washington, with a huge demonstration on March 27, 1982, and offered support to the Salvadoran struggle however it could. At one point, when the US decided to train Savaldoran troops in the US, we promptly organized a bus filled it with our members and allies and drove down to Fort Bragg, the site of the training, and went on the site chanting against this escalation of the US intervention.
From the beginning of my work with CISPES in 1981 it was exciting to have huge numbers of young people involved, willing to do things militantly and on the spur of the moment. Our street presence was impressive.
I was concerned about the all-white composition of the organization and the Salvadoran leadership’s lack of understanding of the role of the Black movement and other movements of color in political work and movements in the US. This meant focusing primarily on the white peace movement and, I felt, particularly neglecting the movements of people of color. This was the picture in NYC and to a large extent the national picture as well.
My relationship to CISPES ended in bitter conflict with my leaving the organization over this last issue. This conflict became most dramatic and heated over the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign."
Creator
Date
2022
Contributor
Rights
You can, without permission, copy, modify, distribute, display, or perform the Item, for non-commercial uses. For any other permissible uses, please review the terms and conditions with the organization that has made the Item available.
Format
MP4
Language
English
Type
Video memoir
Identifier
AV-ROSS.036
Original Format
MP4
Duration
00:23:54
Media
Collection
Citation
Ross, Suzanne, “4-06. Political Work: CISPES and El Salvador,” Bronx History Online, accessed August 22, 2025, https://digital.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/AV-ROSS/AV-ROSS.036.
Position: 190 (3 views)