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Welcome to the Freedom Archives' Digital Search Engine.The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings. Our collection includes weekly news, poetry, music programs; in-depth interviews and reports on social and cultural issues; numerous voices from behind prison walls; diverse activists; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from many radical organizations and movements.

Latin America

This collection contains materials from Central and South America and the Caribbean. Primary topics include Cuba and the Cuban Revolution, the Sandanista revolution in Nicaragua, the Nicaragua-Contra War, the 1973 Chilean coup and US imperialism.

The sub-collections within the Latin American collection include: The Caribbean, Central America, North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), South America, and Latin America General. This collection contains over 400 materials ranging in format from audio and video to paper documents. Historically, Latin America was dominated first by the Spanish who colonized the vast majority of the region and then by the United States after passing the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. This foreign policy stated that the U.S would view further European attempts of colonization on Latin America as acts of aggression. This doctrine gave the U.S.the power to intervene in Latin American affairs.

During the de-colonization from European powers in Latin America, national liberation groups were created many with the hope of installing left-wing socialist governments. This was partially as a result of the successful Cuban Revolution in 1960. Due to the rise of the socialist agenda in Latin America, the U.S increased their interventionist tactics that in turn sparked government repression, civil wars and social instability.

Highlights of the collection include materials referencing the Cuban revolution, a model socialist revolution and inspiration for many surrounding Latin American countries. Similarly there is an expansive collection of audio materials about Chile, specifically in regards to the military coup. The Chile collection also features paper materials on MIR (Revolutionary Left Movement), a Marxist paramilitary guerrilla movement. These materials attest to U.S intervention and the Chilean struggle for independence.  

Subcollections

  • Caribbean
    Caribbean
    Primary topics include Cuba and the Cuban Revolution as well as Grenada and the New Jewel Movement.
  • Central America
    Central America
    Primary topics include the the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) in El Salvador, guerilla movements in Guatemala, the Sandanista revolution in Nicaragua, as well as U.S intervention in each of these geographic regions.
  • Latin America General
    Latin America General
    Materials that feature contributions from multiple Latin America countries. Also includes materials that compare and analyze U.S. intervention in more than one region of Latin America.
  • North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
    North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
    This collection contains paper periodicals from the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1966 to research the political economy of the Americas and US policy towards the region.
  • South America
    South America
    Materials within are focused on revolutionary movements and resistance to political repression in South America.

Documents

NACLA Packet #6 NACLA Packet #6
Publisher: The North American Congress On Latin AmericaDate: 5/31/1972Volume Number: 31-MayFormat: PeriodicalCollection: North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
A Letter from Brazil; Faculty and Students Escalate Actions; Hip Culture and the Third World; Ralston Purina: Your Friendly Neighborhood Capitalist
March in Solidarity with the Haitian People, Saturday December 12 March in Solidarity with the Haitian People, Saturday December 12
Publisher: Haitian Refugee ProjectCall Number: Format: FlyerCollection: Caribbean
Flyer for a march in solidarity with the people of Haiti after a boat capsized off of Florida, drowning 33 Haitians. The Haitian Refugee project also includes a list of demands to the U.S. government, including stopping military and economic support of the Duvalier dictatorship, freeing the political prisoners in Haiti, releasing the more than 2,500 Haitian refugees in detention, and more.
Forward Ever Forward Ever
Publisher: Boston Grenada Solidarity Committee and US-Grenada Friendship SocietyDate: 6/1986Call Number: Format: PeriodicalCollection: Caribbean
Excerpts from the Caribbean Press; Grenada, Libya and Reagan by Ramsey Clark; Letter to the Reader.
Haiti: Politics of Blood and Race Haiti: Politics of Blood and Race
Author: Dan CoughlinPublisher: Covert Action Publications, Inc.Call Number: Volume Number: No. 45Format: ArticleCollection: Caribbean
Blood -was one of Haiti's few valuable exports. Once highly prized by U.S. corporations and research facilities for its richness in antibodies, it is now the rationale for interning hundreds of HIV sero positive Haitian political refugees and their family members in a remote and desolate corner of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There, for over a year, men, women, and children, guilty only of being ill, face military brutality and medical abuse.
Haiti's Not for Sale Haiti's Not for Sale
Authors: Laurie Richardson, Jean-Roland CheryPublisher: Covert Action Publications, Inc.Call Number: Format: ArticleCollection: Caribbean
Haiti faces all out economic warfare and increasing unrest as the US-dominated World Bank and IMF wrestle Aristide and the popular movements for control of the country.
Haiti: The "Uncivil" Society Haiti: The "Uncivil" Society
Author: Noam ChomskyPublisher: Covert Action Publications, Inc.Call Number: Format: ArticleCollection: Caribbean
Part ll of a speech given in Washington, D.C. in December 1995 to benefit CAQ. Part I appeared in the Spring 1996 issue of CAQ.
En la Cárcel, seguimos la lucha!: Testimonio de dos huelgas de hambre Presos Políticos-Guayaquil Ecuador En la Cárcel, seguimos la lucha!: Testimonio de dos huelgas de hambre Presos Políticos-Guayaquil Ecuador
Authors: Presos Politicos- Guayaquil, EcuadorYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: South America
Presos políticos en Quito, Ecuador, deciden ponerse en huelga de hambre para denunciar las violaciones a sus derechos humanos y las condiciones infrahumanas a las cuales fueron sometidos. Con la ayuda de familiares y amigos su movimiento trascendio los muros de la penitenciaría y tomar un carácter político en la sociedad Ecuatoriana. Finalmente después de 31 días en huelga fueron liberados. About political prisoners on hunger strike in Quito, Ecuador. Ill. 37 pages
Fernando Alegria y Nelson Villagra Fernando Alegria y Nelson Villagra
Date: 1/24/1979Call Number: LA 182Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Casa de las AmericasCollection: Latin America General
Recital de poemas y canciones 0. Afinacion y acrordes de la guitarra, Nelson 1. Palabras introductorias de fernando 2. Fernando : Schneider - ragueo en mayor; Victor - la mayor y do; Letelier - SIN GUITARRA 3. La Companera - se continuan los acordes suaves para acompanar regreso 4. Fernando - Regreso 5. La Batalla en la Moneda guitarra se queda en tonada, en menor 5.1 Heridas traigo de muerte 6. El Congelado 7. El Comite de Resistencia 8. Me gustan todas las coses 9. El Ultraunitario 10. Fernando - Ponerle y no ponerle; rasgueo de tonada; Gallito de la pasion rasgueo de cueca 11. El Clandesta
This great people has said "enough" and has begun to move...Poems from the struggle in Latin America This great people has said "enough" and has begun to move...Poems from the struggle in Latin America
Publisher: Peoples PressYear: 1972Call Number: Format: BookCollection: Latin America General
Poems selected and translated by Margaret Randall. Poetry by Margaret Randall, Hugo Blanco, Cesar Vallejo, Otto-Rene Castillo, Leonel Rugama, Silvio Rodriguez & Carlos Maria Gutierrez.