Welcome to La Peña! Promoting social justice & intercultural understanding through the arts since 1975.
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September 11th, 1973 Memorial
September 11, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Free
On September 11, 1973, the government of democratically-elected president Salvador Allende was violently overthrown by a US-backed military coup and dictatorship that led to the murder, torture, and exile of thousands of Chileans, most of whom —to this day— are seeking justice.
La Peña Cultural Center was founded in Berkeley, CA one year later by a group of Chilean immigrants and local residents in the tradition of “peñas” as a gathering place for solidarity, political activism, art, music, and food. Fifty years later—as the last operating peña in the US—La Peña is hosting a month-long program to commemorate this historical moment through community-centered events that focus on resilience, respect, and healing.
This event is the first one of the month, where we will be coming together to reflect on what it means to resist today, turning pain and grief into beauty through music, art, poetry, dance, and food. Community members will offer their love and respect to those who are no longer with us, and everyone is welcome to participate.
The night will include live music, visual art, Chilean food from El Meson de Violeta, Chilean beverages (vino navegado), a handmade community altar, Chilean dance (cuecas, among others), and a good opportunity to talk and reflect on the importance of this day for our past, our present, and our future.
We will also have the pre-screening of “La Peña, a 50-year Love Story”, a short documentary directed by Chilean filmmaker Francisco Núñez Capriles and a multimedia art exhibition called “Deconstructing Episodic Memory” by community member and former political prisoner Héctor Salgado.