Chairman Menendez Statement on 50th Anniversary of Military Coup in Chile

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement marking the 50th anniversary of the 1973 military coup d’état in Chile.

“Today marks the 50th anniversary of the coup against the democratically elected Chilean President, Salvador Allende, and the start of one of the most brutal dictatorships in Latin America’s history. The 1973 coup launched a period of military rule that resulted in the persecution, murder, and exile of hundreds of thousands of Chileans, which has left a profound and enduring impact on Chilean society to this day.

“In April, I had the chance to visit the Museum of Memory in Santiago. Walking through the halls of that museum, I was moved by the personal stories of suffering, how quickly the Pinochet dictatorship dismantled democratic institutions, and how the brave movement of Chileans struggled against the odds to restore democracy in their country. Today’s anniversary is a day to mourn those who were lost, remember those who stood up, and to mobilize against authoritarian rule and stand up for democracy and freedom around the world.”

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