The Committee against Repression in Brazil was founded in 1971 by Marcos Arruda, Harry Strharsky, and Loretta Strharsky to protest U.S. foreign policy, and to raise awareness about human rights violations in Brazil under Emílio Garrastazu Médici’s military dictatorship. Common Front for Latin America, which focused on publicizing human rights abuses by dictatorships across Latin America, grew out of more specific organizing work on Brazil by the Committee against Repression in Brazil. Both were made up of a mix of academics, clergy, church activists, and Latin American political exiles; they were heavily influenced by both Marxism and liberation theology. The groups eventually fractured around 1974.
Reports, mailings, correspondence, leaflets, newsletters, organizing packets, minutes, agendas, financial documents, flyers and press releases related to the organizing activities of two affiliated, leftist anti-imperialist groups that operated between 1971-1975: Common Front for Latin America (COFFLA) and Committee against Repression in Brazil (CARIB). Collection also contains publications and correspondence related to the Bertrand Russell Tribunal on Repression in Brazil, Chile and Latin America.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Common Front for Latin America (COFFLA) and Coalition Against Repression in Brazil (CARIB) records, Ms.2014.004, Brown University Library.
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Gift of Harry Strharsky in 2014.