February 28 Popular Leagues

The February 28 Popular Leagues (Spanish: Ligas Populares 28 de Febrero, abbreviated LP-28) was a mass movement in El Salvador. LP-28 was launched in September 1977 by the People's Revolutionary Army (ERP), functioning as its mass front.^[1][2][3][4] The name referred to the February 28, 1977 massacre of ERP supporters, killed at Plaza Libertad in San Salvador during a protest against electoral fraud in the 1977 Salvadoran presidential election.^[5][6] LP-28 had some 5,000 to 10,000 members.^[7][8] Its following was largely based among peasants in Morazán Department.^[8] Leoncio Pichinte was the general secretary of LP-28.^[9]

LP-28 poster

ERP and the formation of LP-28

In the lead-up to the Salvadoran Civil War the mass mobilization of ERP was weaker than that of other guerrilla groups, as ERP had a more militaristic outlook.^[7] ERP had lost its previous mass front, the Unified Popular Action Front (FAPU), in an internal split in 1976.^[7] LP-28 was launched in response to the advances in mass organizations of its competitors among the guerrilla movements.^[7] In reaction to the electoral fraud and repression against the progressive sectors in the Catholic church, most of the Ecclesiastic Base Communities (CEB) in Morazán Department joined LP-28.^[1] In November 1977 the military forces had arrested and tortured Father Miguel Ventura in Morazan Department, but LP-28 organized mass protests in the area and managed to secure his release and allow Ventura to go into exile.^[1]

1979 coup

LP-28 took a militant stance against the October 15, 1979 coup d'état,^[8] taking actions to draw attention to the situation in El Salvador, such as occupations of embassy buildings, government installations and churches.^[1][7] LP-28, along with ERP, issued a call for a nation-wide insurrection.^[10] On October 29, 1979, government forces opened fire on an LP-28 rally in Morazán Department, killing 29 people.^[8]

1979 congress

The movement held its first congress on November 27, 1979, which affirmed the overthrow of the military junta and the establishment of a socialist society as the goals of the movement.^[8] The congress was baptized 'Irma Elena Contreras'.^[8] Some 3,000 LP-28 supporters attended the event.^[8] The meeting was addressed by guerrilla leader Ana Guadalupe Martínez Menéndez [es].^[8] The People's Revolutionary Bloc (BPR) sent a small delegation to the LP-28 congress.^[8] The BPR delegation was led by Juan Chacón, who in his intervention at the event made a call for unity.^[8] FAPU did not attend the LP-28 congress, as there was still hostility after the ERP killing of FAPU leader Roque Dalton.^[8]

CRM and FDR

On January 11, 1980, LP-28, BPR and FAPU issued a joint call for insurrection.^[11] LP-28, BPR and FAPU organized a joint protest on January 22, 1980, which was met with violence from the state.^[11] Subsequently, LP-28, BPR and FAPU formed the Revolutionary Mass Coordination (CRM).^[11][12] CRM later merged into the Revolutionary Democratic Front (FDR), LP-28 was given one of seven slots in the FDR leadership - where it was represented by Pichinte.^[13][14]

Member organizations

LP-28 was constituted by

• the "Heroes of October 29" Popular Peasant Leagues (Ligas Populares Campesinas "Héroes del 29 de octubre", LPC-28)
• the Secondary Students Popular Leagues "Edwin Arnoldo Contreras" (Ligas Populares Estudiantiles de Secundarias "Edwin Arnoldo Contreras", LPES)
• the Popular University Leagues "Mario Nelson Alfaro" (Ligas Populares Universitarias "Mario Nelson Alfaro", LPU)
• the Popular Workers Leagues "Marco Antonio Solís" (Ligas Populares Obreras "Marco Antonio Solís", LPO-28)
• the LP-28 Barrio and Colony Committees (Comités de Barrios y Colonias LP-28, CB-LP-28)
• the Association of Market Users and Workers of El Salvador (Asociación de Usuarios y Trabajadores de los Mercados de El Salvador, ASUTRAMES).^[2][15][16]

In exile

LP-28 was present in Salvadoran diaspora, for example it had presence in Costa Rica.^[17]