The mural tells the story of the community...

The indigenous roots of Central America

During the 60's and 70's, the population became increasingly organized, which was violently repressed by the government, the Salvadoran elites, the military, and right-wing death squads. The creature on the right symbolizes evil in local mythology. 

The Civil War raged in Chalatenango in the 1980's; this scene is from the massacre in the Rio Sumpul, where over 600 civilians were massacred by government troops as they attempted to flee to Honduras. The officer at right is American, recalling that the US government and military fully supported the Salvadoran military with massive financial aid and training of soldiers and officers, despite being aware of the atrocities being committed.

Local communities relocated to refugee camps across the border in Honduras with concentration camp conditions. The quotes describe these experiences, and were written by Marcela Murcia, who lives in the house behind this mural, and who lived through this history. Her daughter Erika, the coordinator of the mural project, was born in this camp.

Tired of the horrors of refugee camp life, the population chose to return to Chalatenango despite the fact that the war was still raging. They rebuilt their bombed out houses and communities from scratch.

The parakeet, a local animal.

The mural features a mix of Central American folkloric art, tribal patterns from around the world and spray paint art.

Today, many families have been painfully separated as people leave for the US and other countries in search of work.

Marcela Murcia writes that while many were lost during the war and others emigrated, there are still many left, continuing the struggle.

The sign includes all the names of the children and adults in the community who participated in the creation of the mural.