| 
Transito, a legendary human rights figure, is often referred to
as the “Rosa Parks of Ecuador.” After the Spanish conquest,
many indigenous people were stripped of their rights and forced
to serve as indentured servants in the hacienda system. In 1926,
at the age of 17,Transito spoke out against a hacienda owner who
had been molesting her. She was sent to jail for five months for
protesting her abuse. Upon her release, she became a legend for
speaking out about the plight of indigenous Ecuadorians. Later,
she was instrumental in organizing a strike by indigenous farmers,
which catalyzed a newfound respect for indigenous peoples in Ecuadorian
politics and in society at large.
|
|