DESAPARECIDOS: Mothers of the Disappeared

JUANA DE PARGAMENT (age 95)

Juana is an central figure of the Asociación Madres de Plaza de Mayo protest movement. Her involvement began with a frantic search for her son Alberto after he was taken from his apartment the night of May 17, 1976. When Israeli passports were found he was severely beaten and made to disappear. Alberto was a physician (age 31) with a wife named Milta who was 6-months pregnant. After the baby was born Milta decided to leave the country and never return. There has been no contact.

Juana is dedicated and immersed in her work with the organization. Her personal life includes a daughter and grandchildren she visits every day on her way to the Madres' offices. Every Thursday Juana crosses the busy Avenue de Mayo, descends a flight of stairs to the subway. Three stops later she climbs up another long stairway, crosses the Plaza and joins other mothers for the weekly march. She says she will take this route, until she can no longer walk. Juana speaks about the socialization of motherhood. "They are all our children. They were taken alive, and until they are returned alive, we will continue to fight for the things they believed in." She shakes her fist and asks, "Do you understand?"