The image of Susana Baca protesting at the October 15 march was a trending topic on social networks, but it has also been significant for the artists who gathered in front of the Palace of Justice. The Grammy winner has marched against corruption on more than one occasion, but a year after recovering from a health condition that left her in bed for more than six months, she joined the sector that called for José Jerí’s departure.
YOU CAN SEE: Artists join the national march: “We return to the streets in defense of democracy”
On Sunday, the singer referred to the attack with Agua Marina, but also to the situation of the population after the repression of the current government. “I have retained my sorrow for the desolation caused by the pain of seeing what happened to the brother artists of Agua Marina. I know, as an artist, the sensation of fear of going out on stage and having a giant audience that receives you, that acclaims you. It is a bold act and that is a fear that is not easy to overcome. But there is another fear: what will it be like to be wounded and have them machine-gun you in the back, to see you fall, without being able to do nothing, feel the pain in your body, be murdered with impunity, without compassion, and kill yourself without having done anything to deserve that death,” he wrote on Instagram.
Baca arrived at the march accompanied by her husband, Ricardo Pereira, with a sign that said: “No to the mafia pact.” The 81-year-old singer was received with applause and addressed the front line of the Performing Artists of Peru group. “Feeling that there is no National Police to protect you, because there is no political decision that protects citizens from abuse and extortion, all this is a double pain. My solidarity with all those who are outraged by the arrogance of thugs in the absence of a State. Right now, my solidarity with the family of the murdered ‘Trvko’ Mauricio Ruiz and that of the musician who is still seriously injured ‘Flipown’ Luis Reyes,” the former Minister of Culture added in her post. “These young people only came out with the flag of shame in the face of the advance of the corruption that governs us.”
YOU CAN SEE: Susana Baca: “Making music is a form of resistance”
The singer, who in previous interviews questioned other governments and has said that she would only work again in a government like that of Pepe Mujica, confirmed that, during Wednesday’s march, the block of artists was also “locked up” on Abancay Avenue.
“Let all those who are behind this leave, let those who ambushed us by cornering us and provoking our defense with what we had at hand leave. I went out with them and we were peaceful in our march, and taking advantage of the night they forced us, with coerced infiltrated police, to vandalize our protest. I am upset, the Peruvians are upset and we will no longer remain silent; here we are with our truth and our chest open. They will not silence us, we will all take to the streets, which is the only way to defend life. We are going to face those who should protect us and do not do so, we are going to seek justice; We will all leave so as not to be accomplices of a corrupt country. We will leave now because we love our Peru, the one where we were born.”
