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Salvadorans Question Obama on Anniversary of Romero's Death

March 25, 2011 | Pulitzer Center

A view of Luis Lazo's painting of Jesus and Pilate in San Salvador. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

A little girl visiting the tomb of El Salvador’s unofficial patron saint of peace, Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero, the day after President Obama's visit. Romero was assassinated on March 24,1980. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

88-year-old Madre Luz Isabel Cuevas or “Madre Luz” (Mother Light). She is the last living witness to the murder of Archbishop Romero, her longtime housemate, friend and “santo” (saint). Image by Ivan Hernandez of Pie de Foto. El Salvador, 2011.

The military guarding a school in San Salvador. Image by Rodrigo Sura of Pie de Foto. El Salvador, 2011.

A march and vigil on the 31st anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Romero by right-wing paramilitaries. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

Archbishop Romero's final view on the day of his assassination on March 24, 1980 by right-wing paramilitaries. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

An Obama banner at an anti-US rally this week. Image by Ivan Hernandez of Pie de Foto. El Salvador, 2011.

A 'prohibido olvidar' (It's prohibited to forget) banner at a commemoration of Archbishop Romero's assassination. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

Soldiers controlling traffic ahead of President Obama's visit. Image by Rodrigo Sura of Pie de Foto. El Salvador, 2011.

The Divina Providencia Church where Archbishop Romero was assassinated, near where he and Madre Luz lived. Image by Roberto Lovato. El Salvador, 2011.

Will Obama apologize for the U.S government's role in funding and backing the regimes responsible for the deaths of Oscar Romero and 80,000 other Salvadorans?

On the 31st anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero by U.S.-trained paramilitaries, Salvadorans look to President Obama for clues to their country's future relationship with the United States.