Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque

On an October morning in 1974, a chilling discovery was made in Villa Soldati, Buenos Aires. The Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque commemorates this tragic event. Two bodies lay lifeless, riddled with bullets. They were Pedro Leopoldo Barraza, a 36-year-old journalist, and his 21-year-old partner, Carlos Laham, a photographer. The Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque stands as a stark reminder of their story, a story of love, journalism, and the brutal silencing of dissent. Pedro, nicknamed “El Tarta” for his stutter, was a seasoned journalist. His work often challenged the powerful. Years earlier, he had investigated and exposed the disappearance of Felipe Vallese, a labor leader. His reporting led to the conviction of several police officers. One of them, Juan Fiorillo, later joined the ranks of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance (AAA), the group that claimed responsibility for the murders of Barraza and Laham. The Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque not only honors these victims, but it also acknowledges a love story that defied societal norms. Pedro and Carlos were openly gay and proud members of the “Putos Peronistas,” a group that challenged the traditional image of Peronism. Their relationship was a testament to their courage and conviction in a time of increasing political violence and social conservatism. The AAA’s chilling communiqué following the murders invoked “God, Fatherland, and Home,” a slogan eerily reminiscent of the rhetoric used to justify countless acts of violence. The Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque reminds us of the price paid for speaking truth to power and living authentically. Carlos had just begun his photography career, capturing images of a world on the brink of upheaval. Pedro, after a period of disillusionment with politics, had embraced a life of personal freedom, expressing his identity openly. Their lives, intertwined in love and shared ideals, were cut short by the forces of repression that sought to silence dissent and enforce conformity. The plaque stands as a testament to their love, their courage, and their unwavering commitment to truth. It urges us to remember them, not just as victims, but as individuals who dared to live and love freely in a time of darkness. The Pedro Leopoldo Barraza y Carlos Laham Plaque is more than a memorial; it is a call to continue their fight for justice, equality, and the freedom of expression.