June 1 marks the beginning of a new era in the erosion of democracy in El Salvador at the hands of Nayib Bukele and his economic and political allies. Following his unconstitutional reelection in February and sweeping changes to the country’s electoral system, he will officially begin his second five-year term on Saturday. Bukele will become the first Salvadoran president to serve consecutive terms since the military dictatorship of General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez in the 1930s and 40s.

The Popular Rebellion and Resistance Bloc (BRP) is a popular social movement coalition comprised of dozens of unions, peasant organizations, student and teacher groups, and more. The BRP has helped lead the organized opposition to Bukele’s attacks on democracy, human rights, and the country’s most marginalized sectors. See below for CISPES’s translation of the BRP’s May 28 statement calling on Salvadorans to organize against the Bukele dictatorship.

POPULAR REBELLION AND RESISTANCE BLOC

THIS JUNE 1: REJECT THE DICTATORIAL GOVERNMENT

As popular social organizations in resistance, WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE the unconstitutional and illegitimate president who will take power on June 1, 2024 as a result of cheating, fraud, persecution against critical and/or opposition individuals and groups, corruption, and the violation of human rights.

As organizations in resistance, we are entering a new stage of struggle against the imposition of Bukele as President of the Republic for another five year period. On June 1, a new blow to the democratic process, created with the Peace Accords in 1992, will be consummated: the loss of many rights that were won by and for people in struggle over the course of many years.

Only through organization and struggle will we be able to defend what we have won and confront the dictatorial regime. Bukele intends to stay in power, in alliance with oligarchy groups, imperialist forces and his economic allies, making the rich richer, making pacts with delinquents, and using state violence against poor members of the population.

We call on the Salvadoran people, the Salvadoran community abroad, and the international solidarity community to show your repudiation this June 1, through any means of condemnation, resistance, and struggle available to you. We especially call on:

• rural and urban eviction and displacement victims;
• land theft victims;
• family members of innocent incarcerated victims;
• victims of mass firings;
• victims of the suffocation of the University of El Salvador;
• medical professional and healthcare worker victims;
• victims who belong to unions and teachers' associations whose labor rights have been violated;
• primary and secondary school students who are victims of harassment and institutional neglect;
• victims of persecution against the press, union, community, religious, academic leaders, and victims of political persecution;
• women victims of State harassment and the loss of their previously acquired rights;
• victims of the denial of the rights of people with diverse gender identities by the State;
• the thousands of hunger victims due to the high cost of living and the abandonment of the agricultural sector;
• victims of the negation and destruction of memory and cultural heritage and the environment.

Our people have a long tradition of organizing and struggle and have known, in every historic moment, how to confront their oppressors. The legitimate aspirations of peace with democracy, freedom, and social justice will not be cut short.

We have dignity, righteousness, courage, and the experience of struggle on our side.

NO DICTATORSHIP EVER AGAIN!
WITH UNITY, STRUGGLE AND ORGANIZATION, WE WILL RESCUE THE NATION!