19 JULY 1979 — As is so often the case in the period between the violent overthrow of one government and the assumption of power of its successor, chaos reigned in much of Managua after Somoza’s departure prior to the Sandinistas’ taking control. (Remember Baghdad after the March 2003 U.S. invasion?) In the photograph above, […]
19 JULY 1979 — Nicaraguans tore down remnants of the Somoza regime as they celebrated the birth of a new nation. It was an extraordinary scene. Relatively few journalists have the opportunity to witness and to report on watershed events such as this. I feel privileged for having been able to do so. The image […]
GIJÓN, Spain — Javier Bauluz (left), myself and Esther at the “13 Encuentro Internacional de Fotoperiodismo Ciudad de Gijón,” this past week. The event, which is focused on human rights around the world, ended this weekend. Esther and I conducted a three-day backpack journalism workshop during our week-long stay.
18 JULY 1979 — With President Anastasio Somoza Debayle having fled Nicaragua just ahead of a tidal wave of violent opposition, his supporters still in the country jockeyed for power. The Sandinistas called any alternative to their rule “Somocismo without Somoza,” and rejected it as “unacceptable.” Above, Sandinistas and their supporters marched victoriously and defiantly […]
17 JULY 1979 — The national convulsion had nearly ended. As the caption of the above picture states, it was rumored that Somoza had fled the country. American and Nicaraguan politicians maneuvered to fill the vacuum. Maneuvered for power. But the opportunity for negotiation had long evaporated. Having exhausted all the peaceful means for change, […]
16 JULY 1979 — By this time just about everybody knew it was almost over. Such an extraordinary experience. To witness and document a corrupt, brutal government being overthrown by the collective will of its people. The only question at this point was how many more Nicaraguans would have to suffer or die before Somoza […]