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The rebel radio that brought down a war criminal - Diana Sierra Becerra

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Since the 1800s, a handful of oligarchs had controlled nearly all of El Salvador’s land, forcing laborers to work for almost nothing. But in 1980, farmers and urban workers formed guerrilla groups to overthrow the US-backed dictatorship. These revolutionaries were attacked from every direction, but a group of rebels refused to be silenced. Diana Sierra Becerra shares the story of Radio Venceremos.


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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Diana Sierra Becerra
  • Director Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Animator Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol
  • Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Soraya Field Fiorio
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam, Charles Wallace
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Pollinate a more just future! 

Listen to the original broadcasts of the Radio Venceremos. And recent speeches by Santiago, the former broadcaster, and Rosa, a farmworker organizer. 

Read Santiago’s diary & watch documentaries from the era. 

Learn how revolutionary women organized against capitalism & patriarchy.

Witness how survivors of state violence continue to demand justice. Explore social movement histories at the Museum of the Word and Image.

Educate your community about US imperialism in El Salvador and Central America with this lesson plan. Connect the dots between US foreign policy and immigrant rights.  

March to close the School of the Americas, which trained Colonel Monterrossa, and hundreds of war criminals. 

Follow news about the El Mozote trials, including the coverup of US advisor Sergeant Major Hazelwood who presided over the massacre. 

Join a solidarity delegation. 

Organize a sister-city relationship with a Salvadoran community. 


Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Diana Sierra Becerra
  • Director Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Animator Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol
  • Associate Producer Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Soraya Field Fiorio
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam, Charles Wallace

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