Cancha 23 de Julio

In downtown Leon there is a basketball court called La Cancha 23 de Julio. It is a memorial to four students at the UNAN-Leon who were killed in 1959 by troops of Anastasio Somoza, the Nicaraguan dictator from the 1930s to the 1950s. Here is a picture of the mural on the basketball court depicting what happened during the student protests, and also a photo of what the site looks like today. (click the images for bigger versions)



I walk by this corner several times per day, without pausing to think about what happened there. From my vantage point in peaceful Nicaragua today, it is hard to believe that it was once the site of murders. If it weren't for the mural, I would have never known about it at all. I guess thinking back on the crises of the past forces me to recognize the fragility of the future, not specifically of Nicaragua, but in general. After all, I suppose that's part of the point of the mural, to remind us to work to ensure a safe, happy future because nothing is guaranteed.

Lastly, to end on a happy note, here is a photo of the basketball courts in action. There are some pretty good ballers from time to time, and during the night, a lot of skateboarders come in and work on tricks.