Podcast: From Pregnancy to Murder Charge: Living Under a Total Abortion Ban
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FROM PREGNANCY TO MURDER CHARGE: LIVING UNDER A TOTAL ABORTION BAN
MARIA HINOJOSA: IT IS JULY 2007 IN THE CAPITAL OF EL SALVADOR. A 24-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, NAMED TEODORA VÁZQUEZ, IS AT WORK ALONE AT THE END OF THE DAY. SHE’S 9 MONTHS PREGNANT. AND SHE’S IN ACTIVE LABOR.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: MI BEBE VA NACER AHORA.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WITHOUT THINKING, TEODORA GRABS THE PHONE AND DIALS 9-1-1.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PORQUE NO SE ME OCURRIÓ OTRO NÚMERO
MARIA HINOJOSA: SOMEONE ANSWERS.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ME CONTESTÓ UNA MUJER.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEODORA EXPLAINS HER SITUATION TO THE OPERATOR; SHE NEEDS AN AMBULANCE. HURRY.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: LE EXPLIQUÉ QUE ESTABA EN EMBARAZO, QUE ESTABA A PUNTO DE DAR A LUZ Y QUE ME AYUDARA… [TUCK UNDER]
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE WAITS FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. BUT THERE IS NO AMBULANCE, AND THE PAIN IS GETTING WORSE…
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: NO LLEGARON.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEODORA CALLS 9-1-1 A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: VOLVÍ A LLAMAR.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BUT NOTHING. SHE WAITS. ALL ALONE. IN LABOR.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y ENTONCES SENTIR EL DESEO IR AL BAÑO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THEN SHE GETS THE URGE TO USE THE RESTROOM, BUT WHEN SHE GETS THERE, THE LIGHTS DON’T WORK.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: NO HABÍA LUZ, ESTABA OSCURA,
MARIA HINOJOSA: IN THE DARK STALL, TEODORA BEGINS TO PULL DOWN HER UNDERWEAR
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y CUANDO YO ME BAJO LA ROPA INTERIOR
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND WHEN HER HANDS REACH HER KNEES
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SENTÍ QUE ALGO SE DESPRENDIÓ Y BAJO
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE FEELS SOMETHING FROM INSIDE OF HER DROP… AND THEN EVERYTHING GOES BLACK.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: EN ESE MOMENTO, YO PERDÍ EL CONOCIMIENTO. OSEA, ME DESMAYE.
MARIA HINOJOSA:TEODORA LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS. SHE’S HEMORRHAGING NOW, AND BLOOD BEGINS TO POOL BENEATH HER.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ME DESMAYO. NO ME DOY CUENTA DE LO QUE ESTÁ PASANDO.
MARIA HINOJOSA:SHE CAN’T REMEMBER IF IT WAS 5 MINUTES OR AN HOUR. ALL SHE KNOWS IS THAT WHILE UNCONSCIOUS, SOMEONE FINALLY ARRIVES. BUT IT’S NOT PARAMEDICS AND IT’S NOT AN AMBULANCE. IT’S THE POLICE, AND A FEDERAL FORENSIC TEAM.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ME ACUSAN DE QUE YO MATÉ A MI HIJA Y ME ESPOSAN…
MARIA HINOJOSA: SO, WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE, YOU ARE COVERED IN BLOOD, AND YOUR DAUGHTER AS WELL. POLICE ARRIVE, AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS PUT HANDCUFFS ON YOU.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SI.
MARIA HINOJOSA: IN THE HAZE OF HER CONSCIOUSNESS, SHE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING. WHERE ARE THEY TAKING HER? AND WHERE IS HER BABY?
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: EN EL MOMENTO QUE ME CAPTURAN, ME LLEVAN A MÍ, PERO MI BEBÉ QUEDÓ ALLÍ.
MARIA HINOJOSA:TEODORA WOULD SOON FIND THAT SHE HAD BEEN ARRESTED… FOR WHAT AUTHORITIES ASSUMED WAS AN ABORTION AND THE KILLING OF HER OWN BABY.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ¿POR QUÉ NO ME AYUDARON?
MARIA HINOJOSA: FROM FUTURO MEDIA, IT’S LATINO USA. I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. TODAY, PRODUCER MONICA MORALES GARCIA AND I, TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR, A COUNTRY WITH ONE OF THE STRICTEST ABORTION LAWS IN-THE-WORLD. WE MEET PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION, AND OTHERS WHO’VE BUILT A MOVEMENT AGAINST IT. THROUGH INTERVIEWS, DOCUMENTS, AND ARCHIVAL MATERIALS, OUR INVESTIGATION PAINTS A CLEAR AND DISTURBING PICTURE OF THE WOMEN WHO SUFFER MOST WHEN A COUNTRY STRETCHES THE DEFINITION OF ABORTION, TO INCLUDE MISCARRIAGES AND STILL BIRTHS… AND THEN BANS THEM ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: EARLIER THIS YEAR, MONICA, AND I TRAVELED TO SAN SALVADOR, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL OF EL SALVADOR. IT’S A SPECIAL TRIP FOR BOTH OF US. LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS 25 YEARS AGO ON A REPORTING TRIP.
ARCHIVAL: I’M MARIA HINOJOSA. EL SALVADOR IS STILL A COUNTRY THAT IS WOUNDED AND BLEEDING. AND THE WOMEN HERE STILL LONG TO BE SAFE AND LIVE IN PEACE…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AND IT’S MY FIRST TIME HERE. IN THE COUNTRY MY FAMILY FLED BACK IN THE 80S—BEFORE I WAS BORN. SO, WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS PLACE COMES FROM SAD STORIES PASSED DOWN TO ME. BUT LANDING NOW
AIRPORT AMBI: WE HAVE ARRIVED AT EL SALVADOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: I KNEW I WOULD BRING BACK STORIES OF MY OWN.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WE CAME TO SPEAK WITH WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED FOR WHAT DOCTORS HERE CALL “OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES.” THINGS LIKE A MISSCARRIAGE—UNA PÉRDIDA. OR GOING INTO LABOR ALONE, HEMORRHAGING. OR HAVING A STILLBIRTH. EMERGENCIES THAT CAN HAVE EXTREME CONSEQUENCES IN A COUNTY UNDER A TOTAL ABORTION BAN.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AND THOUGH HAVING A MISSCARRIAGE OR A STILLBIRTH IS NOT TECHNICALLY ILLEGAL HERE, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, POLICE AND JUDGES AVOID MAKING DISTINCTIONS TO STEER CLEAR OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION FOR BEING INVOLVED IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT DEFINE AS AN ABORTION.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE? WELL, REPORTS SHOW DOCTORS AND NURSES CAN END UP CALLING THE POLICE WHEN WOMEN ARE HAVING A MISSCARRIAGE. LET THAT SINK IN.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: BUT BEFORE WE GET TO OUR DESTINATION, LET’S JUST TAKE A MOMENT FOR SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THOUGH WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS BEEN POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN EL SALVADOR– THERE HAVE BEEN HIGH HIGHS AND LOW LOWS. BECAUSE YOU SEE, IN THE LATE 1980S AND EARLY 90S, THE RADICAL FEMINIST MOVEMENT HERE WAS BOOMING.
ARCHIVAL: ESTAMOS DEMANDANDO UNA VIDA DIGNA// CON SALUD FÍSICA Y MENTAL PARA TODAS LAS MUJERES DE EL SALVADOR// QUE VIVA LA MUJER SALVADOREÑA! WOOOOO…
MARIA HINOJOSA:IT’S A PERIOD THAT COINCIDED WITH THE COUNTRY’S 12-YEAR CIVIL WAR. BUT BY THE MILLENNIUM, THE MOVEMENT WAS WANING. AND IT WAS DURING THAT LOW PERIOD OF FEMINISM WHEN ABORTION LAWS GOT STRICTER.
ARCHIVAL: EL ARTÍCULO 1 RECONOCE COMO PERSONA HUMANA DESDE LA CONCEPCIÓN.
MARIA HINOJOSA:IT WOULDN’T TAKE LONG FOR ADVOCATES ON THE LEFT TO NOTICE THAT WOMEN WERE BEING INCARCERATED BECAUSE OF STILL BIRTHS AND MISCARRIAGES. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT BEGAN TO GROW.
MARIA HINOJOSA: I’LL NEVER FORGET ARRIVING IN 1989 DURING THE OFFENSIVE OF THE LEFTIST GORILLAS. AND WE WERE HERE TO REPORT AFTER THE WAR. AND NOW I’M BACK, YEARS AFTER THAT.
ES AQUÍ?
MARIA HINOJOSA:WE MAKE OUR FIRST STOP AT THE OFFICES OF A FEMINIST COLLECTIVE. THEIR OFFICES INCLUDE THE AGRUPACIÓN CIUDADANA POR LA DESPENALIZACIÓN DEL ABORTO. TRANSLATED IT’S THE CITIZEN GROUP FOR THE DEPENALIZATION OF ABORTION.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THEY FIGHT TO GET WOMEN OUT OF PRISON, AND THEY’RE WORKING TO CHANGE THE ABORTION LANDSCAPE IN EL SALVADOR ALTOGETHER. THE OFFICES OF THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE ARE IN A RESIDENTIAL PART OF THE CITY. IT’S A WHITE TWO-STORY HOUSE WITH LARGE WHITE GATES WRAPPED IN BARBED WIRE.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THERE’S AN INDOOR COURTYARD THAT LOOKS OUT TO THE SALVADORAN SKY
MARIA HINOJOSA: SO THEY HAVE, UM, WRITING ON THE WALL, IT SAYS. WE BUILD THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA:THE BUILDING ALSO HOSTS A FEMINIST RADIO STATION AND LAWYERS’ OFFICES. WE SIT DOWN AND WAIT TO MEET WITH MARGARITA, A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS INCARCERATED AFTER UNINTENTIONALLY DELIVERING HER BABY IN A TOILET. SHE WAS RELEASED IN 2023.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: BUENOS DIAS MI NOMBRE ES BERTA MARGARITA PALMA HERNÁNDEZ Y ME DA MUCHO GUSTO CONOCERLAS PUES. [TUCKED UNDER] Y TENGO 31 AÑOS.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: MARGARITA IS 31. SHE HAS BROWN HAIR THAT GOES PAST HER WAIST. SHE’S WEARING A BLACK KNEE-LENGTH SKIRT AND A WHITE T-SHIRT WITH A BIG CHANEL LOGO. SHE’S VERY GIRLY AND SWEET. YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS THAT SHE SPENT ALMOST A DECADE IN PRISON.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: ESTUVE NUEVE AÑOS CON NUEVE MESES DETENIDA. PORQUE DE VEINTE AÑOS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: YOU WERE 20 YEARS OLD. VIENTE AÑOS. OMG.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BACK IN 2013, MARGARITA WAS DATING AN OLDER GUY. SHE WAS CONVINCED HE WAS THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. BUT A COUPLE MONTHS IN SHE GOT PREGNANT. AND AS SOON AS SHE TOLD HIM, HE DISAPPEARED.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: ÉL SE FUE. COMO? COBARDE, NO ME DIJO
MARIA HINOJOSA: MARGARITA SAYS HE’S A COWARD. HE DIDN’T EVEN SAY ANYTHING– AND ONE DAY, HE JUST LEFT.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SO, FOR MONTHS AS HER BELLY GREW HER NEIGHBORS FROM HER A SMALL RURAL TOWN WOULD SIDE-EYE HER, CALL HER A SIN VERGÜENZA– SHAMELESS.
MONICA: BUT THIS WAS HER FIRST PREGNANCY, SO IT DIDN’T MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAID; SHE WAS GOING TO BE A MOTHER AND SHE WAS GONNA ENJOY IT!
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: PERO LLEGA UNO COMO DECIRLE, AH– ¡ME VALE! TIENEN QUE HACERLE HUEVO PARA CRIARLO SOLA.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA:AND WHEN SHE GOT TO 8 MONTHS, SHE WAS FEELING GREAT. SHE WAS ABOUT TO MEET HER BABY. UNTIL A VERY HOT DAY IN SEPTEMBER 2013.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: PUES YO NO SENTÍ NI DOLOR
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA:SHE’S AT HOME– SHE GOES TO THE BATHROOM WHICH IS OUTDOORS…BASICALLY A LATRINE WITH A SEPTIC TANK THAT IS ABOUT 10 FEET DEEP.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: HICE FUERZAS
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: MARGARITA PUSHES… AND FEELS A DROP.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: SE ME FUE LA NIÑA. EN LA FOSA SÉPTICA.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SO YOU GIVE BIRTH IN THE LATRINE, AND THE UMBILICAL CORD DETACHES. WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOW BLEEDING.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: SI.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: HER BABY GIRL HAD JUST BEEN BORN AND FALLEN INTO THE SEPTIC TANK. HER MOM CALLS THE POLICE FOR HELP.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: ENTONCES LLEGÓ LA POLICÍA, VERDAD? PUES, GRACIAS A DIOS SACARON A LA NIÑA DE LA FOSA SÉPTICA.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE POLICE ARRIVE AND ARE ABLE TO GET THE BABY OUT OF THE TANK. MARGARITA’S BABY IS ALIVE.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: YO CUANDO PASÓ ESO, YA ME HABÍA DESMAYADO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BUT JUST LIKE IN THE STORY OF TEO WHO YOU HEARD FROM AT THE START OF THE SHOW, THE POLICE ASSUME THE WORST…THAT MARGARITA HAD GIVEN BIRTH AND THROWN HER BABY IN THE TOILET, IN AN ATTEMPT TO KILL HER OWN NEWBORN.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: YA DESPUÉS FUE QUE YO VINE A DESPERTAR AQUÍ AL HOSPITAL DE AHUACHAPÁN.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE NEXT THING MARGARITA REMEMBERS IS WAKING UP IN THE HOSPITAL. HANDCUFFED. ACCUSED OF TRYING TO MURDER HER BABY.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: ESTABA DETENIDA POR HOMICIDIO AGRAVADO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: EL SALVADOR HAS PROSECUTED MORE THAN 180 WOMEN OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES FOR HAVING OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES WHICH THE GOVERNMENT THEN LABELED AS ABORTIONS AND HOMICIDES. ACCORDING TO THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE, THEY’VE HELPED AT LEAST 73 WOMEN REGAIN THEIR FREEDOM. MARGARITA IS ONE OF THEM.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: ALL THE WOMEN THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTED AND THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING RIGHT NOW IS WOMEN FROM POOR ORIGINS. THAT’S THE REALITY OF THE POOR WOMAN HERE IN EL SALVADOR.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THIS IS ARTURO CASTELLANO, A SOCIAL WORKER AT THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE WHERE WE MET MARGARITA.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: IT IS MORE LIKE SENDING A MESSAGE FROM THE SYSTEM THAT THEY DO NOT WANT ANYONE GETTING AN ABORTION, EVEN THOUGH IT’S A MISCARRIAGE, THEY DON’T CARE. YOU’RE GONNA GO TO JAIL.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BUT WHY JUST POOR WOMEN?
ARTURO CATELLANOS: UH, THAT’S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. UNFORTUNATELY, HERE IN EL SALVADOR. THEY CRIMINALIZE POVERTY A LOT HERE IN THE COUNTRY. ALL THE WOMEN ARE POOR, OBVIOUSLY, THAT, THAT ARE CRIMINALIZED.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: ARTURO AND OTHERS AT THE CITIZENS ORGANIZATION HAVE WORKED TO PROVE THAT WOMEN WHO ARE INCARCERATED FOR UNINTENTIONALLY LOSING THEIR BABIES ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THEY’RE NOT AT FAULT FOR NOT PERFECTLY COMPLETING THEIR PREGNANCIES. IN FACT, THEY ARE VICTIMS OF PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY PAINFUL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. AND INSTEAD OF GETTING HELP, THEY GET PUNISHED BY THE SYSTEM.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: IF YOU DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, IF YOU DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A PAID JOB, IF YOU ARE IN A RURAL SIDE OF THE COUNTRY, THEN YOU WILL GET CRIMINALIZED FOR MISCARRIAGE. IF YOU CAN PAY AN ABORTION, YOU WILL GO TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.YOU AVOID THE LAW. IF YOU HAVE A MISCARRIAGE AND YOU ARE FROM A FAMILY THAT CAN PAY FOR PRIVATE DOCTORS, THEY WON’T CALL THE POLICE, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE PUBLIC SYSTEM, THEY WILL CALL THE POLICE.EVEN THOUGH THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE, THEY WILL DO IT.
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND THE DOCTOR OR THE NURSE WILL CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY’RE AFRAID THAT IF THEY DON’T, THEY COULD END UP IN PRISON.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: YES, EXACTLY.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: BY THE TIME MARGARITA BEGAN HER PRISON SENTENCE, THERE WAS ALREADY A FEMINIST MOVEMENT IN THE MAKING TO PROTECT AND DEFEND WOMEN IN HER SITUATION.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: Y ELLOS EMPEZARON A PELEAR MI CASO. GRACIAS A LA DIOS Y A LA ORGANIZACIÓN ES QUE YO ESTOY AFUERA.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVISTS, MARGARITA’S DEFENSE WAS SUCCESSFUL. HER 30-YEAR SENTENCE WAS REDUCED TO 9 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS. SHE WAS RELEASED IN 2023. BUT DESPITE BEING OUT FOR TWO YEARS, MARGARITA HAS YET TO SEE OR MEET HER 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER..THE BABY WHO WAS BORN IN THE LATRINE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: ELLA SABE QUE LA QUIERES IR A BUSCAR?
MARIA HINOJOSA: I ASKED MARGARITA IF HER DAUGHTER IS AWARE THAT HER MOTHER IS TRYING TO MEET HER.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: PUES, COMO ELLA HA METIDO COSAS CRECIENDO EN OTRO MUNDO, VERDAD? PERO YO LO VOY A INTENTAR.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BUT MARGARITA SAYS PEOPLE HAVE TURNED HER DAUGHTER AGAINST HER.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHO TOOK YOUR DAUGHTER FROM YOU?
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: PUES. EL PAPÁ, PORQUE ÉL LA TIENE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: NO ME LO ESPERABA. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE MAN WHO LEFT HER, THE COWARD, AS SHE CALLED HIM. HE TOOK HER DAUGHTER. AND THEN MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY. BUT MARGARITA SAYS SHE WILL NEVER STOP TRYING TO GET HER BACK.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: NOW, THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE IS WORKING TO RECONNECT THEM, BUT IT HASN’T BEEN EASY.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: MI SUEÑO ES IR A BUSCAR A MI HIJA. ESE ES MI ANHELO Y MI SUEÑO TENER CONMIGO A MI HIJA.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: MARGARITA WON’T LOSE HOPE THOUGH.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: ESO ES LO QUE MÁS LE PIDO A DIOS.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: REUNITING WITH HER DAUGHTER IS HER CONSTANT PRAYER TO GOD.
BERTA MARGARITA HERNANDEZ: AUNQUE SEA, DONDE QUIERA LA VOY A BUSCAR.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE SAYS, WHEREVER HER DAUGHTER IS, SHE WILL LOOK FOR HER.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: THE WOMEN HERE, THEY’RE THEY’RE RESISTING THE SYSTEM. IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO, UH, BE PROUD OBVIOUSLY, AND YOU NEED TO ADMIRE BECAUSE THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT IS NOT WELCOMED IN SOCIETY, BUT THEY’RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT, AND THEY’RE ADVANCING IN THEIR FIGHT.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AND WHEN WE COME BACK: WHAT IT MEANS FOR EL SALVADOR TO RECOGNIZE ‘LIFE’ FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION.
ARTURO CATELLANOS: CHANGING THE LAW FOR ABORTION, THERE IS NOT MUCH HOPE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: STAY WITH US, NO TE VAYAS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: HEY, WE ARE BACK. YOU JUST HEARD THE STORIES OF TEO AND MARGARITA, TWO WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED AND INCARCERATED BECAUSE OF EL SALVADOR’S TOTAL ABORTION BAN. LATINO USA PRODUCER MONICA MORALES GARCIA AND I ARE GOING TO GET BACK TO TEO’S STORY BUT BEFORE THAT, THE BACK STORY OF HOW AND WHY EL SAVADOR ENDED UP WITH ONE OF THE WORLD’S STRICTEST ABORTION BANS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: IN 1997, EL SALVADOR MADE ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. AS YOU CAN HEAR
ARCHIVAL: LA REFORMA DE ARTICULO 1 DE LA CONSTITUCION EN ABRIL DE 1997 CIERA LA POSIBILIDAD LEGAL PARA TODA FORMA DE ABORTO.
MARIA HINOJOSA:IT DIDN’T MATTER IF A PREGNANCY WAS THE RESULT OF RAPE OR INCEST. AND IT DIDN’T MATTER IF THE WOMAN’S LIFE WAS IN DANGER.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AS WE HEARD FROM ARTURO AT THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE, THE LAW IN EL SALVADOR DOESN’T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN ABORTION, A MISCARRIAGE, STILL BIRTH, OR ANY OBSTETRIC EMERGENCY. ANY TERMINATION OF A PREGNANCY COULD MAKE YOU A CRIMINAL. AND COULD LEAD TO AN AGGRAVATED HOMICIDE CHARGE WITH UP TO 50 YEARS IN PRISON. YEAH, 50. A KEY ACTOR IN EL SALVADOR’S CRIMINALIZATION OF MISCARRIAGES IS JULIA REGINA DE CARDENAL.
ARCHIVAL JULIA: …SE PUEDA SACAR AL NINO ENTERO Y NO EN PEDAZOS COMO PASA EN EL ABORTO.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SHE’S ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ANTI-ABORTION ADVOCATES IN THE COUNTRY, AND SHE BELIEVES PERSONHOOD BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.
ARCHIVAL JULIA: LO QUE HABÍAMOS LOGRADO EN EL SALVADOR. ES QUE NUESTRA CONSTITUCIÓN RECONOCE A UNA PERSONA HUMANA DESDE EL MOMENTO DE LA CONCEPCIÓN.
MARIA HINOJOSA: JULIA REGINA’S ORGANIZATION IS CALLED, “SÍ A LA VIDA” OR “YES TO LIFE.” AND THANKS IN PART TO HER, THE SALVADORAN CONSTITUTION WAS AMENDED IN 1999 TO RECOGNIZE THE QUOTE ‘RIGHT TO LIFE’ FROM THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION. IT’S AN ADDITION TO THE SALVADOREAN CONSTITUTION THAT SOLIDIFIED THE NO-EXCEPTIONS BAN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. JULIA REGINA IS A FORCE IN THE ANTI ABORTION MOVEMENT HERE. SO OF COURSE WE NEEDED TO SPEAK TO HER. BUT HER ORGANIZATION DECLINED OUR IN-PERSON INTERVIEW REQUEST SAYING WE WOULD BE BIASED AGAINST THEM. THAT DIDN’T STOP US FROM TAKING A CHANCE AND COLD-CALLING HER.YOU WON’T HEAR JULIA REGINA DURING OUR PHONE CALL BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE PERMISSION TO RECORD IT.
MARIA HINOJOSA: JULIA BEGAN HER CAREER AS A SINGER, WRITING SONGS LIKE GRACIAS POR MI VIDA, A SONG ABOUT A MOTHER WHO GIVES UP HER CHILD FOR ADOPTION SO THEY COULD BOTH HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE THEN FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE TOLD YOU PUSHED TO AMEND THE SALVADORAN CONSTITUTION. AS ABORTION BECAME MORE AND MORE POLITICIZED IN THE 1990S, HER ORGANIZATION NARROWED ITS FOCUS ON ABORTION AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE MOST PROMINENT ANTI-ABORTION GROUP IN EL SALVADOR.
MARIA HINOJOSA: DURING OUR VERY BRIEF CHAT, JULIA REGINA TOLD ME SHE CONSIDERS HERSELF AN ACTIVIST WHO DEFENDS LIFE. SHE TOLD ME SHE’S NOT ANTI-ANYTHING… SHE’S PRO… PRO-WOMAN AND PRO-BABY. THE CALL LASTED ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES AND HALFWAY THROUGH JULIA REGINA QUESTIONED MY USE OF THE TERM OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES.
MARIA HINOJOSA: I ASKED IF WE COULD SIT DOWN AND TALK MORE IN PERSON BECAUSE I WANTED TO HEAR HER POINT OF VIEW IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE STORY FULLY… BUT JULIA REGINA BUT SHE DIDN’T WANT TO MEET WITH US.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: IN THE STREETS OF EL SALVADOR, JULIA REGINA’S INFLUENCE AND HER ANTI-ABORTION VIEWS… ARE EVERYWHERE. MARIA AND I HEARD IT FOR OURSELVES FROM SEVERAL REGULAR SALVADORANS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: LIKE AN OLDER WOMAN WHO FIRMLY STATED WOMEN HAVE NO RIGHT TO END A PREGNANCY…
POP VOX: DO YOU BELIEVE A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AN ABORTION?
- DE ABORTAR NO.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: A YOUNG MAN WHOSE MOTHER WAS RAPED… “AND HERE I AM” HE SAYS.
POP VOX: YO TE PUEDO DAR EL TESTIMONIO DE MI VIDA, MAMÁ FUE VIOLADA, Y AQUÍ ESTOY YO.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AND ANOTHER WOMAN, WHO NEVER TOLD HER SON HE WAS THE PRODUCT OF RAPE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: ¿USTED FUE VIOLADA? YOU WERE RAPED?
SI, Y YO TENGO A MI HIJO, Y NO LO ABORTE– AHÍ ESTÁ MI HIJO. EL NO SABE, SOLO YO LO SÉ Y DIOS.
MARIA HINOJOSA:BUT JULIA REGINA’S INFLUENCE DOESN’T STOP THERE. IN 2013, A PREGNANT WOMAN WITH LUPUS, PLEADED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR A LIFE SAVING ABORTION AND SHE WAS DENIED.
ARCHIVAL: THE WOMAN NAMED BEATRIZ- IS CARRYING A 26-YEAR-OLD FETUS MISSING LARGE PARTS OF THE BRAIN AND SKULL.
MARIA HINOJOSA:JULIA REGINA, PRAISED THE SALVADORAN RULING, SAYING THAT, QUOTE “ABORTION IS A CRUEL AND BLOODY MURDER IN WHICH NOT ONLY DOES THE CHILD DIE BUT THE MOTHER IS HURT PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.” END QUOTE. MONTHS LATER BEATRIZ GAVE BIRTH BY EMERGENCY C-SECTION. THE FETUS DIED 5 HOURS AFTER BIRTH. LATER, THE HIGH PROFILE CASE, BEATRIZ VS. EL SALVADOR, MADE IT TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT DETERMINED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT EL SALVADOR FAILED TO GUARANTEE BEATRIZ’S HUMAN RIGHTS.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: BUT THE STORIES WE’VE TOLD YOU… TEO’S AND MARGARITA’S… THEY DID NOT WANT TO TERMINATE THEIR PREGNANCIES. THEY ARE POOR WOMEN, WITH VERY LITTLE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. AND THEY LOST THEIR BABIES BECAUSE OF AN OBSTETRIC EMERGENCY… AND INSTEAD OF GETTING THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEEDED, THE GOVERNMENT PUNISHED THEM, ACCUSED THEM OF MURDER AND REFUSED TO BELIEVE WOMEN. THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL NUMBERS ON HOW MANY WOMEN ARE IN PRISON FOR OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES THAT ARE LABELED AS ABORTIONS AND HOMICIDE. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT LAWYERS, FEMINISTS, AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR TIME INCARCERATED ALL SUSPECT THAT THERE’S A MASSIVE UNDERCOUNT. WE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR FOR COMMENT ON THIS STORY. BUT WE NEVER HEARD BACK.
MARIA HINOJOSA: ON OUR SECOND DAY IN EL SALVADOR, MONICA AND I WENT TO LA CASA DE MUJERES LIBRES “THE HOUSE OF FREE WOMEN” TEO IS THE WOMAN WHO WAS AT WORK WHEN SHE WENT INTO LABOR ALONE AND THEN SPENT A DECADE IN PRISON. NOW SHE’S AN ACTIVIST AND AN ORGANIZER AT THIS HOUSE WHICH IS IN A CUTE MIDDLE CLASS BARRIO. AT THIS HOUSE OF FREE WOMEN SHE RUNS HER OWN RECOVERY HOUSE TO SUPPORT FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN JUST LIKE HER. THE WOMEN COME HERE TO GET THERAPY, CONNECT WITH JOBS, AND LEARN TO SEND EMAILS. NO TASK IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL. TEO IS BEAMING AS SHE GREETS US.
MUJERES LIBRES HOUSE (TEODORA VÁZQUEZ): Y ESTE, BUENO, AQUÍ, POR AQUÍ ESTÁ LA PRIMERA. Y YA ¿QUÉ TAL? Y YA QUE UNOS DÍAS.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AS WE STEP INTO THE RECOVERY HOUSE WITH ITS BIG TILES AND MAHOGANY MOLDING, TEO INTRODUCES US TO ZULEYMA, WHO IS IN THE KITCHEN.
MUJERES LIBRES HOUSE (ZULEYMA): Y HAGO UN CHILE DE CEBOLLA PORQUE A ELLA LES ENCANTA PONER
MARIA HINOJOSA: ZULYEMA IS MAKING A CALDO DE RES…AND, WELL, THE SMELL OF THAT BEEF STEW IS REACHING EVERY CORNER OF THE HOUSE. I MEAN. UF!
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: ZULYEMA IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THIS PLACE AND SHE JOKES THAT SHE’S ALSO THE TREASURER, THE THEATER DIRECTOR, THE DANCE TEACHER AND THE BASKETBALL COACH. SHE DOES IT ALL.
MUJERES LIBRES HOUSE (ZULEYMA): YO SOY MULTIUSOS. SOY COCINERA. LAVANDERA. SOY MAMÁ. SOY MODELO. DE TODO UN POCO [TUCK UNDER]
MARIA HINOJOSA: ZULYEMA SPENT YEARS IN PRISON. NOW SHE LIVES AT THIS RECOVERY HOUSE WITH HER 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, JIMENA. ALONG WITH JIMENA’S PET RABBIT BUGS BUNNY. ZULYEMA SAYS MUJERES LIBRES HAS GIVEN HER LIFE AUTONOMY.
MUJERES LIBRES HOUSE (ZULEYMA): MUJERES LIBRES A MI ME HA DADO MUCHA AUTONOMÍA
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: WE KEEP WALKING TO THE LUSH GREEN BACKYARD WITH TEO. WHERE WE SETTLE UNDER A SHADED PATIO THAT WARDED OFF THE SALVADORAN HEAT. BIRDS CAW AND CROAK WHILE BUGS BUNNY – THE PET RABBIT – ROAMS AROUND THE YARD.
MARIA HINOJOSA: NOS SENTAMOS
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SÍ CLARO POR SUPUESTO SENTAMOS
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND HERE, TEO CONTINUES HER STORY. WHAT HAPPENED IN FACT AFTER SHE FAINTED IN THAT DARK TOILET STALL ALL ALONE COVERED IN BLOOD…THE MOMENT WHEN THE POLICE ASSUMED AND LABELED HER A MURDERER.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y ALLÍ COMIENZA LA TORTURA.
MARIA HINOJOSA:THAT’S WHERE THE TORTURE BEGAN, SHE SAYS…
MARIA HINOJOSA: THAT NIGHT, TEO, BARELY CONSCIOUS, REMEMBERS NOT BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY. SHE COULD HEAR THE OFFICERS ARGUING ABOUT WHICH HOLDING CELL THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE HER TO.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ESCUCHABA QUE DECÍAN: ‘LA VAMOS A LLEVAR A LA A A LA BARTOLINA DE CENTENARIO.’ Y ENTONCES ME LLEVARON AHÍ Y PUSIERON LA ESPOSA EN LO MÁS ALTO POSIBLE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHEN THEY GOT TO THE CELL, THE POLICE OFFICERS HANDCUFFED HER…
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO QUEDÉ EN ESTA FORMA, MIRA ASÍ
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO GETS UP FROM HER SEAT TO SHOW US HOW. SHE PUSHES HER CHAIR BEHIND HER, WRISTS INTERTWINED, AND STRETCHES HER ARMS WAY OVER HER HEAD.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO QUEDÉ ASÍ CON LOS PIES ASÍ. COLGADA.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THEY HUNG HER FROM THE HIGHEST POINT..HER TOES BARELY TOUCHING THE FLOOR. BLOOD POOLING UNDERNEATH HER.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO TENÍA UN CHARCO DE SANGRE ABAJO Y ME ESTABA MURIENDO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD DIE IN THAT THAT HOLDING CELL
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO RECUERDO QUE QUE ME SACARON,
MARIA HINOJOSA: FROM THAT POINT ON, ALL SHE REMEMBERS IS FLASHES OF TIME. POLICE SAYING IT WAS BETTER IF SHE DIED IN THE HOSPITAL… WHERE SHE HAD BEEN TAKEN NOW.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO SOLO ME ACUERDO QUE LLEGUÉ AL HOSPITAL Y VI TODO BLANCO
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND THEN ALL SHE SAW WAS BRIGHT WHITE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y CUANDO YO REACCION NO TENÍA CUBIERTA MI CAMA DE CAMARÓGRAFOS REPORTEROS Y QUE ESTABAN ASÍ ESPERANDO QUE YO ABRIERA LOS OJOS
MARIA HINOJOSA: JOURNALISTS, TV CAMERAS, MICROPHONES ALL SURROUNDED HER HOSPITAL BED.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PARA SALIR EN EL PRIMER PLANO DE LA MEDIODÍA QUE HABÍAN CAPTURADO UNA MUJER QUE HABÍA MATADO A SU HIJA
MARIA HINOJOSA: THEY WANTED TO GET THEIR PHOTO OF THE WOMAN WHO HAD JUST BEEN ARRESTED FOR KILLING HER CHILD …JUST IN TIME FOR THE MIDDAY NEWS. AND THAT IS HOW TEO LEARNED THAT HER LITTLE GIRL DIDN’T MAKE IT.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SE MORÍ, OSEA YO SENTÍ QUE TODO EL MUNDO SE ME VINO ENCIMA.
MARIA HINOJOSA:“I FELT LIKE I HAD DIED, LIKE THE WORLD HAD FALLEN ON TOP OF ME AND I COULDN’T MOVE.”
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: : PERO ESO NO ERA TODO PORQUE ME TOCABA QUE ENFRENTAR LA SEGUNDA PARTE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR LOSING HER BABY WHEN SHE WENT INTO LABOR ALONE… WITH NO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, AFTER HER REPEATED CALLS TO 911 FOR HELP WENT UNANSWERED. AND TILL THIS DAY NOBODY KNOWS WHY OR WHEN OR HOW TEO’S BABY GIRL DIED…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: TEO’S STORY IS THE STORY OF SO MANY OTHER WOMEN OF HER GENERATION IN EL SALVADOR. TEO GREW UP IN A RURAL PART OF THE COUNTRY… IN THE 90S, WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS COMING OUT OF A CIVIL WAR. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG THOSE LIVING AT THE NATIONAL POVERTY LINE WAS 60%, WITH OVER HALF OF THAT POPULATION EARNING LESS THAN $2 DOLLARS A DAY. AND IT WAS COMMON FOR CHILDREN TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND HELP SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. SO THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT TEO HAD TO DO.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: COMO MI PAPÁS TENÍA MUCHOS PROBLEMAS ECONÓMICOS EMPECÉ A APORTAR PARA MIS HERMANOS PEQUEÑOS
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE TOOK A JOB AS A DOMESTIC WORKER. TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN NOT MUCH YOUNGER THAN HER.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO TENÍA MUCHO MIEDO PORQUE MIS HERMANAS YA SE ESTABAN CASANDO DE LOS 17, 18 AÑOS. Y YO DECÍA: ‘VOY A LLEGAR LOS 17, ME VOY A CASAR TAMBIÉN.’
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SHE WAS SCARED OF HER FATE AS A TEENAGER IF SHE STAYED UNDER HER PARENTS’ ROOF. IT MOST LIKELY WOULD MEAN AN EARLY MARRIAGE– A HUSBAND, AND CHILDREN TO TAKE CARE OF… THE SAME PATH HER SISTERS AND HER MOTHER HAD FOLLOWED.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PERO YO SIEMPRE TENÍA EN MI CABEZA, NO, YO NO ME VOY A CASAR, YO NO ME VOY A CASAR, Y YO NO ME VOY A CASAR.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO SAYS THAT’S HOW SALVADORAN GIRLS ARE RAISED. THEIR PRIORITIES ARE GOD, HUSBAND, AND CHILDREN– IN THAT ORDER, AND A WOMAN’S DOMAIN, THEY’RE TAUGHT, IS IN THE HOME. TEO’S MOTHER WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. SHE HAD BEEN A WIFE SINCE SHE WAS 14 YEARS OLD.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: MI MAMÁ PASÓ 26 AÑOS DE SU VIDA, EH, ENTRE EMBARAZADA Y Y Y DANDO DANDO LACTANCIA
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: TEO DID THE MATH ONE TIME AND REALIZED THAT HER MOTHER HAD SPENT 26 YEARS OF HER LIFE PREGNANT, OR NURSING. FROM AGES 15, ALL THE WAY TO 41.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ELLA FUE OBLIGADA A SER, A SER UNA MAMÁ MUY PEQUEÑA
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO TEARS UP AS SHE TELLS US HER MOTHER’S STORY:
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: YO SÉ QUE MUCHAS MUJERES HAN VIVIDO ESA HISTORIA Y ESTO DE DOLOR,
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHAT CHOICE DID HER MOTHER HAVE AS A GIRL?
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS TO GIRLS WHO COME FROM POOR FAMILIES LIKE TEO, LIKE HER SISTERS, HER MOTHER…IN A COUNTRY WHERE A WOMAN’S WORTH IS ALL WRAPPED UP IN MOTHERHOOD AND BEING A WIFE, IN BEING OF SERVICE… LIFE CAN JUST HAPPEN TO YOU WITHOUT YOU HAVING ANY CONTROL.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHEN WE COME BACK: WHAT HAPPENS TO TEO IN PRISON
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ME GOLPEAN EN LA CÁRCEL POR LO MISMO DE QUE CÓMO PUEDE SER QUE UNA MUJER MATE A SU HIJA
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND HOW SHE BECAME THE FACE OF AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO FREE INCARCERATED SALVADORAN WOMEN
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SI SOMOS 17 NOS PODEMOS DEFENDER.
MARIA HINOJOSA: STAY WITH US , NO TE VAYAS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WELCOME BACK, BEFORE THE BREAK, TEO INVITED ME AND PRODUCER MONICA MORALES-GARCIA INTO LA CASA MUJERES LIBRES… THE RECOVERY HOUSE IN EL SALVADOR FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER HAVING A MISCARRIAGE OR COMPLICATIONS GIVING BIRTH. THEY’RE IN A COUNTRY WITH EXTREMELY STRICT ABORTION RULES AND WHERE THE MERE DEFINITION OF AN ABORTION IS STRETCHED BEYOND ITS MEANING. WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO TEO’S PLACE NOW…THE RECOVERY HOUSE SHE RUNS IN THE CAPITAL…
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHEN YOU END UP IN PRISON, WHAT HAPPENS?
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: ENTRE DEPRESIÓN, FUERON TRES AÑOS CASI.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE FIRST THREE YEARS IN PRISON, TEO FELL INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PORQUE YO NO PODÍA O SEA, YO NO AGUANTABA CON LA IDEA DE QUE MI BEBÉ NO ESTABA, O SEA, ESO FUE COMO. COMO MUY TRISTE PARA MÍ, EL SABER DE QUE ELLA NO ESTABA
MARIA HINOJOSA:SHE JUST COULDN’T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HER BABY GIRL BEING GONE. REMEMBER SHE NEVER EVEN GOT A CHANCE TO SEE HER BABY. EVER. IT ALL FELT SO SURREAL. IN PRISON, TEO WAS THE TARGET OF BEATINGS BY FELLOW FEMALE INMATES WHEN THEY FOUND OUT SHE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH KILLING HER BABY DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE HADN’T DONE SO.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: CÓMO PUEDE SER QUE UNA MUJER MATE A SU HIJA Y…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: IN PRISON, THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY OF INMATES REFLECTS THE ANTI-ABORTION CULTURE
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y QUE MIRA AQUÍ, AQUÍ EN EL SALVADOR, PUEDE LLEGAR POR SECUESTRO, MASACRE, SER EL MATADOR Y ESTÁ BIEN, HASTA RESPETADOS SON.
MARIA HINOJOSA: YOU CAN BE A MURDERER OR KIDNAPPER AND IT DOESN’T MATTER.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PERO SI ENTRA UNA MUJER A LA CÁRCEL POR UNA SITUACIÓN COMO LA MÍA.
MARIA HINOJOSA:TEO TELLS US THAT IF A WOMAN COMES IN AND THE REST OF THE PRISONERS FIND OUT SHE HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING HER BABY, SHE WOULD BE BEATEN, ROBBED, AND WOULD EVEN SPIT ON HER FACE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: NO LE DAN AGUA PARA QUE TOME PARA QUE SE BAÑE PARA QUE LAVE SU ROPA. ESTE DE PRONTO LE GOLPEAN, LE ESCUPE EN LA CARA Y LA ULTRAJAN PSICOLÓGICAMENTE
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: FOR TEO, THE PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE GOT SO BAD THAT WAS PUT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR THREE MONTHS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE PRISON, WHERE SHE WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO TAKE CLASSES.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PENSAMIENTO CRÍTICO
MARIA HINOJOSA: CRITICAL THINKING
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SOLUCIÓN DE PROBLEMAS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: PROBLEM-SOLVING.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: AUTOESTIMA, EJERCICIO, BAILE. Y
MARIA HINOJOSA: SO SELF-LOVE CLASSES
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: DICE AERÓBICOS, BAILE, SALSA, MERENGUE, BACHATA, SALSA DE TODO ESO, TENGO DIPLOMA.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AND THEN, ON A RANDOM DAY IN 2013, FIVE YEARS INTO HER SENTENCE, SHE WAS ASKED TO MEET WITH A LAWYER IN A PRIVATE ROOM. THERE WERE 16 OTHER WOMEN IN THAT ROOM INSIDE THE PRISON. TEO KNEW SOME OF THEM. “WHY ARE YOU IN PRISON?” THE LAWYER ASKED.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: UNA DECÍAN DROGA,
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: DRUGS
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: OTRAS DECÍAN ROBO,
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: ROBBERY
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: OTRAS DECÍA HOMICIDIO,
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: HOMICIDE
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: CUALQUIER COSA, PERO NO DECÍAN EN, EN EL CASO QUE ELLA ESTABAN
MARIA HINOJOSA: NONE OF THEM SAID THEY WERE IN PRISON BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCUSED THEM OF HOMICIDE BECAUSE THEY HAD AN OBSTETRIC EMERGENCY. THE LAWYER THEN LOOKED AT ALL 17 WOMEN AND HE SAID…
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: USTEDES ESTÁN AQUÍ POR UN CASO RELACIONADO CON EL ABORTO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: “YOU’RE ALL HERE BECAUSE OF A CONNECTION TO ABORTION.” AND THIS MEETING, TEO SAYS, WOULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF HER LIFE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE LAWYER THEY MET WAS WORKING WITH THE CITIZENS GROUP FOR THE DEPENALIZATION OF ABORTION. WE MET THEM AT THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE THAT WE VISITED EARLIER IN THE STORY.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SINCE 2009 THEY ALL HAD BEEN WORKING TO FREE A HANDFUL OF WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN IMPRISONED… AND SOMETIMES IT WORKED. BUT OTHER TIMES THE PROCESS TOOK SO LONG THAT BY THE TIME THEY WON APPEALS, THE WOMEN HAD FINISHED SERVING THEIR SENTENCES.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SO THIS TIME, THE LAWYER SAID, THEY TRIED A DIFFERENT STRATEGY, ONE THAT INVOLVED THOSE 17 WOMEN AT THAT FIRST MEETING.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE CAMPAIGN WAS CALLED LAS 17, OR THE 17, AND IT TOOK OVER THE DEBATE AROUND THE COUNTRY –AND INTERNATIONALLY! EVEN PRODUCING SONGS.
ARCHIVAL: VIVAS SE LAS LLEVARON A ESE INFIERNO DONDE PARECÍA QUE EL TIEMPO ES ETERNO Y SIN MAYOR RAZÓN NI INVESTIGACIÓN SIN CONDENA INMINENTE ERA IR A PRISIÓN. TODAS TUVIERON MÁS DE UNA COMPLICACIÓN. POR ESO HOY GRITO GRITO, GRITO, GRITO, DÓNDE, DÓNDE ESTÁ EL DELITO?
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NOW REQUESTED THE PARDON OF THE 17 WOMEN.
MARIA HINOJOSA: 17 WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN WRONGFULLY INCARCERATED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2011, AND CONVICTED TO UP TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR REPORTING AN OBSTETRIC EMERGENCY, A MISCARRIAGE, OR A STILLBIRTH TO THE POLICE. THE GROUP LAS 17 WOULD GAIN NATIONAL —AND THEN INTERNATIONAL— ATTENTION— AND TEO? SHE WOULD BECOME THE FACE OF LAS 17 IN THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO SET THEM FREE.
ARCHIVAL: THIS IS A DISTRESS SIGNAL FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. PLEASE HELP MY SISTER’S NAME IS TEODORA VAZQUEZ. THE GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR HAS SENTENCED HER TO 30 YEARS FOR HAVING A MISCARRIAGE.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: IT TOOK FOUR YEARS, BUT IN 2017, AFTER TEO HAD SERVED A THIRD OF HER 30 YEAR SENTENCE, THE FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS BROUGHT HER CASE BEFORE A SALVADORAN JUDGE. THEIR REQUEST? TEO’S FREEDOM AND A DECLARATION OF HER INNOCENCE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, TEO WAS BROUGHT TO THE COURT BY TWO MASKED GUARDS. ONE ON EACH SIDE. SHE WORE A LEOPARD PRINT TOP, JEANS, AND HER WRISTS WERE HANDCUFFED IN FRONT OF HER. IN THE COURTROOM WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS CHEERED HER ON. SHE SMILED AND HUGGED SOME OF THEM BEFORE SHE SAT DOWN TO MAKE HER CASE TO THE JUDGE.
ARCHIVAL: CONCEDAN MI LIBERTAD, QUE ME CONCEDAN MI LIBERTAD PORQUE SOY INOCENTE, PORQUE TENGO FAMILIA POR QUE LUCHAR, PORQUE TENGO GENTE QUE ME QUIERE Y NECESITA QUE YO ESTÉ CON ELLOS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEODORA PLEADED FOR HER FREEDOM.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: BUT… IT DIDN’T WORK.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: DIJO EL JUEZ QUE NO ME DEJABA EN LIBERTAD. ME RATIFICAN LA SENTENCIA EL 17 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2017.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE JUDGE REJECTED HER PLEA AND SENT TEO BACK TO PRISON.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y YO SENTÍ QUE OTRA VEZ ME VOLVIERON A CONDENAR.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: TEO FELT LIKE SHE HAD BEEN SENTENCED ALL OVER AGAIN. UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH LATER…
ARCHIVAL: CONDENADA A PRISIÓN POR HOMICIDIO CONTRA SU RECIÉN NACIDA EN 2008…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AFTER A HOLIDAY RECESS, THE JUDGE CAME BACK
ARCHIVAL: PERO TRAS CUMPLIR 10 AÑOS DE CONDENA, FUE PUESTA EN LIBERTAD POR LAS AUTORIDADES.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: AND DECIDED TO SET TEO FREE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: EL JUEZ HABÍA TERMINADO DEJARME LOS 10 CON SIETE MESES QUE LLEVABA AHÍ.
[CHANTING] TEODORA NO ESTÁS SOLA…
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE DAY SHE WAS RELEASED EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED HER WAS THERE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: EL MOMENTO QUE YA SALÍ Y VEO LA MULTITUD DE GENTE ESPERÁNDOME, ERA COMO QUE WOW.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THE FEMINIST ORGANIZATIONS, JOURNALISTS, HER OWN FAMILY.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: DE REPENTE MI PAPÁ, MI MAMÁ A LA PAR DE MÍ Y VERLOS A ELLOS, DE PRONTO APARECE MI HIJO.
YO DIJE NO ESTOY SOLA. ESTÁN ELLOS CONMIGO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO WAS READY FOR A NEW START. SHE HAD BIG IDEAS… SHE WANTED TO HELP OTHER WOMEN JUST LIKE HER. AND THAT’S WHY SHE HELPED BUILD THE RECOVERY HOUSE MUJERES LIBRES, FREE WOMEN, WHERE WOMEN LIKE HER CAN FIND A SAFE PLACE AFTER PRISON.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: LAS MUJERES NOS ABRIMOS CAMINO Y LO BUSCAMOS Y LO ENCONTRAMOS. NO ANDAMOS POR VENCIDA TAN FÁCILMENTE, VERDAD? ENTONCES YO TENGO ESA PERCEPCIÓN DE MÍ DE QUE YO LO QUE QUIERO, LO CONSIGO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: SHE WAS GOING TO BECOME A FEMINIST ACTIVIST HERSELF…PART OF THAT LONG TRADITION OF FEMINISMO SALVADOREÑO.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: UNA MUJER ACTIVISTA, FEMINISTA, UNA MUJER QUE LUCHA
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND SINCE THAT DAY THAT TEO WAS RELEASED, SHE HASN’T STOPPED –AND DOESN’T HAVE PLANS TO.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: TODAY, EL SALVADOR MAINTAINS ITS TOTAL ABORTION BAN WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. DESPITE INTERNATIONAL BODIES LIKE THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS WARNING OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. ITS RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE HAD ZERO EFFECT SO FAR. THE SAME GOES FOR THE FEMINIST COLLECTIVE’S CONSTANT LEGAL BATTLES AGAINST THE STATE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: AND SALVADORAN PRESIDENT NAYEEB BUKELE? HE SHOWS NO SIGNS OF CHANGING THESE HARSH ABORTION LAWS.IN A UNIVISION INTERVIEW IN 2024 WITH JOURNALIST JORGE RAMOS, BUKELE ACKNOWLEDGED THE WOMEN OF LAS 17.
BUKELE ARCHIVAL: HUBO UN CASO DE 17 MUJERES QUE FUERON ACUSADAS Y SE PERSIGUEN A ESTAS MUJERES.
MARIA HINOJOSA: IN THAT INTERVIEW BUKELE ALMOST ADMITS (KEY WORD: ALMOST) THAT “LAS 17” MAY HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY INCARCERATED. THE CLOSEST TRANSLATION TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID IS THAT THE WOMEN WERE PERSECUTED AND THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO START LOOKING AT THE “REAL” PROBLEMS IT HAS.
BUKELE ARCHIVAL: ENTONCES, YO CREO QUE EN NUESTRO PAÍS TENEMOS QUE EMPEZAR A VER LOS REALES PROBLEMAS QUE TENEMOS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: BUT BUKELE ENDED BY REAFFIRMING THAT HE REMAINS AGAINST ABORTION.
BUKELE ARCHIVAL: PERO YO ESTOY EN CONTRA DEL ABORTO, PERO EN NUESTRO PAÍS
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE SALVADORAN FEMINISTS WE SPOKE WITH, LIKE MARIANA MOIRA, SAY THEY DON’T EXPECT EL SALVADOR TO CHANGE ITS ANTI-ABORTION LAWS FOR AS LONG AS BUKELE IS IN CHARGE.
MARIA HINOJOSA: WHAT IS THE INTEREST OF THIS POLITIC OF DENYING DUE PROCESS TO WOMEN IN OBSTETRIC EMERGENCIES? WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND TREATING THEM AS IF THEY ARE GANG MEMBERS, MURDERERS, TERRORISTS, DRUG DEALERS? WHAT IS THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT?
MARIANA MOIRA: NO HAY NINGUNA LÓGICA. O SEA, APARENTEMENTE. PERO SI HAY MUCHOS INTERESES.
MARIA HINOJOSA: MARIANA MOIRA TOLD US THAT THERE’S SEEMINGLY NO LOGIC AS TO WHY THE LAWS DON’T CHANGE.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, SHE SAID, THERE ARE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INTERESTS AT PLAY HERE.
MARIANA MOIRA: HAY INTERESES POLÍTICOS Y ECONÓMICOS DETRÁS. NEGOCIAN CON NUESTROS DERECHOS.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: SHE SAID THE ULTRA-RIGHT, AND THE ANTI-ABORTION MOVEMENT ARE NEGOTIATING WITH WOMEN’S RIGHTS.
MARIANA MOIRA: ESTOY CONVENCIDA DE QUE NO TIENE OTRO SENTIDO LÓGICO.
MARIA HINOJOSA: I TOLD YOU WE’D COME BACK TO JULIA REGINA AND HER ANTI-ABORTION ORGANIZATION. IN 2014, WHEN THE CAMPAIGN OF“LAS 17” WAS LAUNCHED, JULIA’S ORGANIZATION, SÍ A LA VIDA, JOINED FORCES WITH A U.S.-BASED NGO. THAT NGO IS CALLED THE ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM, AND IT WAS A BIG PLAYER IN THE FALL OF ROE V. WADE.
ARCHIVAL: THE CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT’S MOST INFLUENTIAL ARM IS THE ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM. // IT WAS PLEASED WITH THE COURT’S DECISION // ALLIANCE FOR DEFENDING FREEDOM IS TAKING THIS AS A WIN.
MARIA HINOJOSA:TOGETHER, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS CALLED FOR NEW LAWYERS TO JOIN THE ANTI-ABORTION CAUSE IN EL SALVADOR, TO MAKE SURE THE RESTRICTIONS AND PUNISHMENTS AGAINST WOMEN STAYED IN PLACE. BUT THERE IS A FURTHER CONNECTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND EL SALVADOR IN THIS ISSUE …UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, THE US WAS ACTUALLY SENDING FUNDS TO CASA MUJERES LIBRES IN ORDER TO HELP WOMEN FIND WORK. BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SLASHED THAT FUNDING AS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION’S MAJOR CUTS TO FOREIGN AID.
ZULEYMA: LO QUE PASÓ CON TRUMP, USAID, PORQUE USAID DABA ESE DINERO
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: ZULEYMA, THE COOK WHO DOES IT ALL AT CASA MUJERES, SAYS THE CUTS MADE A DENT IN THE ORGANIZATION.
ZULEYMA: PUES HOY TODO ESTE AÑO NO QUEDAMOS SIN TRABAJO.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: STILL, EVEN WITH LESS FUNDS, FEMINIST MOVEMENTS IN EL SALVADOR HAVE MADE POSITIVE CHANGES. WHEN THE SALVADORAN FEMINIST COLLECTIVE FIRST BEGAN ITS LEGAL BATTLES, TRYING TO FREE WOMEN LIKE TEO FROM PRISON, FEMINISTS RELIED HEAVILY ON INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. BUT TODAY, THE GROUP HAS ACADEMIC, LEGAL, AND MEDICAL ALLIES– NOT JUST ABROAD BUT IN ITS OWN COUNTRY. AND AS WE’VE SEEN WITH TEO, VICTIMS OF THE TOTAL ABORTION BAN ARE GETTING OUT OF PRISON… AND THEY ARE CREATING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE “MUJERES LIBRES” TO PROVIDE SAFE PLACES FOR WOMEN JUST LIKE THEM.
MARIA HINOJOSA: IT’S OUR LAST FULL NIGHT IN EL SALVADOR… AND, WELL, AFTER LISTENING TO THE STORIES OF THE WOMEN MONICA AND I ARE FEELING SO EMOTIONALLY DRAINED WE NEEDED TO RECHARGE…FIND A LITTLE BIT MORE HOPE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY… SO WE DECIDED TO INVITE TEO AND ZULYEMA AND HER DAUGHTER (BUT NOT THE PET RABBIT) TO JOIN US FOR MARISCOS EN LA COSTA. FRESH SEAFOOD WITH A SUNSET ON THE COAST.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: WE DRIVE HALF AN HOUR FROM THE CAPITAL AND STEP INTO THE WARM PACIFIC OCEAN. TEO REMINDS ME THAT IT’S THE SAME OCEAN, THE SAME COUNTRY WHERE MY ROOTS ARE– AND FOR A MOMENT I FEEL GRATITUDE. IT’S ABOUT 6 P.M. AND THE SUN IS ABOUT TO SET.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: QUÉ CHULÍSIMO. ¿QUÉ TE PARECE? HERMOSO. WOW.
MARIA HINOJOSA: TEO IS REALLY EMOTIONAL. IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THE BEAUTY OF THIS SUNSET…
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE LAST TIME SHE EXPERIENCED THE SUN SETTING ON THE OCEAN WAS IN 1997. THAT’S ALMOST 30 YEARS!
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: THE SUNSET IS BEAUTIFUL. IT’S THE KIND OF SUNSET THAT REMINDS YOU OF HOW SMALL YOU ARE IN THIS WORLD.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: LOS COLORES INCREÍBLE. UNA NARANJA PERFECTO. UN ENTRE AMARILLO NARANJA. REALMENTE ESTO ES DE LO MÁS DE LO MÁS HERMOSO QUE ME PUEDE HABER.
MONICA MORALES-GARCIA: IT’S ORANGE, YELLOW, RED, AND PURPLE SITTING ABOVE THE BEACH HORIZON. IT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD BE INFINITE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: PERO TAMBIÉN DA UNA SENSACIÓN COMO DEL SENTIMIENTO DE LA FELICIDAD DONDE PODEMOS DECIR, ESTA ES LA VIDA
MARIA HINOJOSA: THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT, TEO SAYS.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: Y QUÉ TE HACE SENTIR? EMOCIONALMENTE AHORA VIENDO JUST LOOKING AT, PAZ OCEAN, PAZ PEACE, MUCHA PAZ, MUCHA PAZ. ESPERANZA,
MARIA HINOJOSA: BECAUSE, TEO SAYS, AFTER A SUNSET THERE ALWAYS COMES A SUNRISE.
TEODORA VÁZQUEZ: SIEMPRE HAY UN NUEVO AMANECER PARA QUE AHORA, PUES ESTÁ LA A PUESTA DEL SOL. SIEMPRE HAY UN NUEVO AMANECER PARA OTRO DÍA MÁS.
MARIA HINOJOSA: THIS EPISODE WAS REPORTED BY MONICA MORALES GARCIA AND MYSELF. IT WAS PRODUCED BY MONICA. IT WAS EDITED BY ANDREA LOPEZ-CRUZADO AND OUR MANAGING EDITOR FERNANDA ECHAVARRI. IT WAS MIXED BY GABRIELA BAEZ.
FACT CHECKING FOR THIS EPISODE BY ROXANA AGUIRRE. SPECIAL THANKS TO VULCANIC STUDIOS AND OUR FIXER IN SAN SALVADOR, JOURNALIST IVAN MANZANO.
THIS EPISODE IS PART OF FURUTO INVESTIGATES.
THE LATINO USA TEAM ALSO INCLUDES: JULIA CARUSO, JESSICA ELLIS, VICTORIA ESTRADA, REYNALDO LEAÑOS JR., STEPHANIE LEBOW, LUIS LUNA, GLORIMAR MARQUEZ, JULIETA MARTINELLI, JJ QUERUBIN, ADREANNA RODRIGUEZ, AND NANCY TRUJILLO.
PENILEY RAMIREZ AND I ARE OUR CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS.
I’M YOUR HOST MARIA HINOJOSA.
“LATINO USA IS PART OF I-HEART’S MY CULTURA PODCAST NETWORK. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS AT IHEART ARE LEO GOMEZ AND ARLENE SANTANA.
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