María Elena “Marilyn” Varela, the remembered promoter of the marches of silence, has passed away in Catamarca. She was a friend and schoolmate of María Soledad Morales, the emblematic femicide that occurred in 1990, a crime attributed to “sons of power”.
Varela, alongside Marta Pelloni, led the group of Catamarcan women who raised their voices. She was a teacher at the private María Montessori College, which confirmed the death of one of the young women who led the demands for justice in femicide cases.
The activist became a symbol in a context that silenced hate crimes. After the murder of her 17-year-old friend and the discovery of the body in a landfill, evidence was lost, witnesses were pressured, and an attempt was made to cover up what had happened.
Due to constant social pressure and eight years after the homicide, justice condemned Guillermo Luque to 21 years in prison for murder and rape, and Luis Tula to 9 years as a secondary participant in the rape.
Marilyn, as she was known by loved ones, is now remembered for her educational and social work. The same school where she taught stated:
“We deeply regret to inform our entire educational community of the passing of our beloved teacher María Elena Varela, who with dedication, commitment, and affection accompanied our students and was a fundamental part of our institution.”
