The Poet killed for his art

Victor Jara was a legendary Chilean Folk singer and political activist, like other musicians of his time, his music advocated for political and social change, as well as workers’ rights. But his death came early as he was tortured and killed during the Pinochet Dictatorship in 1973.

He was arrested by Pinochet’s soldiers as they rounded up Chileans who they believed were part of Leftist groups and those affiliated with Allende’s political party; popular union front. Jara was imprisoned with thousands in Chile’s stadium. The guards interrogated him, broke his arm and fingers, then mocked him by asking him to play the guitar. Jara instead sang the Chilean protest song “Venceremos” which translates to; "We Will Win", and soon after he was killed by a gunshot to the head, and his body was riddled with more than 40 bullets.

His music was so powerful that it won the approval of Socialist leader, Salvador Allende, who was fond of musical movements in general. In September 1973, a few years into his democratically elected term, President Salvador Allende was overthrown by a CIA-backed military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, and as the coup captured the presidential palace, Allende gave his farewell speech to Chileans on live Radio. Not only did he say that he would fight until the end, but he refused to be used as a propaganda tool. A few moments later, the coup plotters announced that Allende had committed suicide. They then turned their attention towards artists they considered dangerous, most importantly was Jara.

After his brutal murder, Jara’s mangled body was hung in front of the stadium as a display for the remaining prisoners to see, but his death echoed for generations as a symbol of the struggle in Chile for human rights and justice. Every year, thousands of Chilean musicians perform in festivals and anti-government protests to pay tribute to Victor Jara and the dissidents that were tortured and killed under Pinochet's military regime.

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