Finally, they began their public walking in the Plaza de Mayo, outside of the "Pink House" - Presidental Palace. They wear white kerchiefs on their heads, symbolizing the diapers of their children; the names of their missing loved ones and the date they were "disappeared" are also knitted on the kerchiefs.

Today, thirty years later, they are still walking in the Plaza, and as one mother said, "We aren't satisfied. We are still waiting to find out what happened to the disappeared. Where were they taken? Were they taken on a flight? We are still hoping to find out what happened, why they were taken, who gave the orders. We want the files……there have to be archives. Another said, "We hope and believe those doors will be opened……we'd like to at least get their ashes.

Story after story: Ana Maria's daughter, 5 months pregnant, and her husband disappeared in August of 1976. Ana Maria somehow know the baby was born, but nothing else -- doesn't know if it was a boy or a girl. Enrique, 29 years old, taken from his car one day. Nothing known since. Rolando and wife, Irene, were kidnapped when their child, Charley, was one month old. The young mother was somehow able to give Charley to her neighbor just before she was kidnapped. Charley now is active in the very strong organization, HIJOS: children of the disappeared.

Their motto:
Iluminanado al Pasado [Illuminating the Past]
Denunciando al Presente [Denouncing the Present]
Desafiando el Futuro [Challenging the Future]

2000 people disappeared in the period of repression in the 5 years leading up to the coup. Once the coup began, over 50 people were being disappeared each night.

The mothers explain what they think was behind what they plainly call terrorism of state: "The generation that disappeared were the ones that informed the rest of society about their rights: housing, food, civil rights, etc... Empire and Multinationals didn't want the people to know about their rights."

Early in their organizing, the Madres were given another stunning blow... [click here to read about Iglasia Santa Cruz]

Caminando Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo

White kerchiefs on the plaza
Walking on Thursdays,
Stenciled there now every day.
Thirty years of walking
Keeping it moving
Making it real
Making it now. Waiting by walking.
Making it happen.
Simple determination and
Vulnerable strength,
With the diapers of their children
Etched in memory
And their bones yet to be
Returned.
Neither alive nor dead, still
Desaparecidos.

Thirty years bereft, awake, aware,
Speaking in white to
The world who hears the footsteps
Walking, demanding,
Polishing the concrete
With every step
To a high patina, creating the
Mirror for all;
Perpetual reflection of
Inhumanity and the
Continuing quest for
Memory,
Truth,
Justice.

- Mary Anne Perrone (April 7, 2006)