In 1984, she authored “An Unfinished Song: The Life of Victor Jara,” shedding light on the life and struggles of the legendary folksinger. She also established the Víctor Jara Foundation to further perpetuate her husband’s legacy.
Seeking Justice for Victor Jara
For five decades, Joan Jara tirelessly pursued justice for her husband, who was brutally murdered during the political upheaval in Chile.
In September 1973, Joan’s husband was taken to Chile Stadium after the military coup orchestrated by General Augusto Pinochet.
Victor Jara was among the supporters of the democratically elected President Salvador Allende. Many of those rounded up faced horrifying fates. Joan would later identify his tortured and bullet-riddled body in the morgue.
In 2016, her quest brought her to Orlando, where she sued Pedro Pablo Barrientos, the accused killer of Victor Jara. Barrientos, a death squad lieutenant in 1973, was found liable for Jara’s death. And a $28 million civil trial judgment in favor of the Jara family was awarded.
Barrientos’ Deportation
The civil trial exposed Barrientos’ lies on his citizenship application papers, leading to the revocation of his U.S. citizenship.
