Joaquin Romero Collection
Description:
The Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels, also known as La Placita, became actively involved in the Sanctuary Movement during the 1980s, under the leadership of Father Luis Olivares. This movement aimed to provide refuge to Central American refugees fleeing civil wars and human rights abuses, particularly from El Salvador and Guatemala.
In December 1985, the church publicly declared its support for the Sanctuary Movement. The Los Angeles Times reported Father Olivares announced that the church had been functioning as an "unpublic sanctuary" for some time, offering assistance to Central American families. The church provided counseling services and helped place refugee families in safe locations, even if they were not physically housed within the church building itself. Local TV news and newspapers documented this movement, including a refugee and news photographer for the Associated Press from El Salvador--Joaquin Romero--who captured the solidarity of Los Angeles residents across all walks of life.
Father Olivares is sitting at a table and speaking
Items in the Collection
Title:
Father Luis Olivares Speaks at El Salvador Peace Accords Celebration, MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, 1992
Material Type:
Photograph
Date:
January 19, 1992
Title:
Speakers at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park celebrate the El Salvador Peace Accords, Los Angeles, 1992
Material Type:
Photograph
Date:
January 19, 1992
Title:
Musicians at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park celebrate the El Salvador Peace Accords, Los Angeles, 1993
Material Type:
Photograph
Date:
January 19, 1992
