If there is something that flourishes in Argentina when the country withers, it is every Grandmother of Plaza de Mayo campaign. A flower for identity that grows, stands out, rises from the undergrowth of injustices and inequities. A flower that is watered with the best causes, like the one that Boca and River embraced together to accompany the fight for the search for the grandchildren who still do not know where they are. There are almost 300, they are also years of perseverance to find them, of advances and setbacks that are now gaining momentum because, as the president of River, Rodolfo D’Onofrio said, “these clubs are two locomotives. And these two engines have to be with the people, to achieve a better society ”.
The two largest clubs in the country amplify the feat of this group of women who will celebrate their 44th anniversary on October 22. As did the National Team at other times or artists with fluid arrival in society. It is due to them, the Grandmothers, that that date coincides since 2004 with the National Day of the Right to Identity. It was instituted in his honor.
In the Memory and Human Rights Space of the former ESMA, the historic agreement was signed where Abuelas and the two sports institutions – non-profit civil associations and not SA, as certain characters still claim – pledged to “intensify the search.” Estela de Carlotto defined the meeting as “founding”. As “an exemplary act for society: River and Boca and in the middle, the Grandmothers.” The white handkerchiefs were mixed with the colors of the two shirts. The leaders raised the universal symbol of human rights. The president of Abuelas received a Boca t-shirt with her name and the number 10 on the back. Also another from River.
“The Grandmothers are eternal, we are all, millions to continue the struggle of the Grandmothers,” claimed Jorge Amor Ameal, the president of Boca. “Our commitment has to be permanent and we, from our institutions, can do a lot, because there is a press that tries to hide,” the leader hit the mark. He was referring to the offspring of “the rogue press” – an accomplice during the dictatorship – that in democracy proclaims denialism.
The Identity Blooms campaign that the Grandmothers launched this month will have the visibility that football guarantees. Phenomenon of popular and mass culture that, when it contributes to struggles like this one, allows us to see that in its universe, antidotes can be found that exceed the inventory of damage from the past. A past of mistrust between human rights organizations and sports leaders that continues to be repaired with gestures such as that of River and Boca.
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