White scarfed women in Buenos Aires?

Question

On a recent trip to Buenos Aires I saw many old women wearing a white scarf on their heads walking around in a nice park or plaza. Who are they and what's all about?

Answer 1

You must be refering to the "Madres de Mayo" and the place you saw them was Plaza de Mayo. They are there every Thursday, wearing their white scarf on the heads, asking the government to do something about their missing relatives, usually their sons or daughters. During the military regime in the 70's, lots of young people "disappeared" because their political views were not like the government views. The militars accused them of being communists and killed most of them. However, the bodies never appeared and these mothers go every week to silently protest for what happened. They usually go with photos of the missing people so that no one forgets these people were killed.