17/06/2026 12:22 - Actualidad
Balcón de un edificio histórico con personas asomándose, coche fúnebre detenido en la calle rodeado de militantes con pañuelos blancos, escena de despedida y homenaje en Buenos Aires
In a moment charged with emotion and history, former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner bid farewell to Taty Almeida, the renowned human rights leader, from the balcony of her apartment at San José 1111. The event took place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as the funeral procession passed through the streets of Buenos Aires.
The hearse carrying Almeida's remains made a symbolic stop in front of the building where Kirchner resides. This location is significant in Argentine politics, often serving as a gathering point for supporters. According to reports by C5N, Fabiana, Taty Almeida's daughter, took a megaphone to address the former president directly: "Thank you. Mom is with Ale now. You know we love you." She added, "Thank you, Cristina, for everything you did for our mothers. You should have been here with us. Thank you from the heart."
For international audiences, Taty Almeida (born Lidia Stella Mercedes Miy Uranga) represents the struggle for justice in South America. Born into a military family—her father and brother were officers—her life changed dramatically when her son, Alejandro Almeida, was kidnapped on June 17, 1975, by the Triple A (Argentine Anticommunist Alliance), a right-wing death squad active before the 1976 military dictatorship.
Alejandro was a medical student and activist. His disappearance drove Taty to join the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in 1979. This group, famous for wearing white headscarves, marched weekly in Buenos Aires demanding to know the fate of their disappeared children. Taty became a leading figure of the "Founding Line" faction, focusing on public denunciation and trials for crimes against humanity.
The wake was held at the FOETRA union headquarters, drawing thousands. Among the attendees was Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, another iconic human rights organization dedicated to finding children born in captivity during the dictatorship. Carlotto described Almeida as "a tireless companion, a brave woman who never stopped fighting."
The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo revolutionized human rights activism by using motherhood as a political shield against state terrorism. Their white handkerchiefs have become a global symbol of resistance. Taty Almeida's legacy is defined by her relentless pursuit of memory and justice, ensuring that the atrocities of the past are not forgotten.
In a final interview on March 24, 2026, commemorating 50 years of the military coup, Taty Almeida sent a powerful message to current leaders, asserting "They have not defeated us!" Despite her background in a military family, she embraced activism, once recalling how her son affectionately called her a "little gorilla" (a slang term for hardliners) while expressing his pride in her transformation.
Her remains were laid to rest at the Chacarita Cemetery on June 16. She leaves behind a legendary phrase that continues to inspire activists worldwide: "The only struggle lost is the one you abandon."
Alfredo S. Quiroga
