She sought refuge in her native Britain, together with her two daughters, shortly after the military coup in Chile and the devastating loss of her husband. Initially, I think, they were housed in London by the socialist poet Adrian Mitchell and his family. Joan managed to bring with her, rather miraculously, the smuggled master-tapes of many of Victor's compositions and recordings - banned by the military dictatorship, but which have since become classics throughout Latin America and beyond.
More veteran members of the board may recall that Joan hosted concerts here featuring wonderful exiled Chilean musicians such as the groups Quilapayun and Inti-Illimani. She always showed immense courage in the face of her loss, insisting that a more gentle, creative and celebratory world - as had been enjoyed fleetingly in Chile under the socialist governmnet of Salvador Allende - was indeed possible.
After the demise of the dictatorship Joan returned to live in Chile, establishing the Victor Jara Foundation, among other initiatives. She had a fierce sense of mission, and somehow managed to translate her grief into a colossal, dynamic contribution to progressive Chilean and Latin American culture:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Joan-Jara-Died-Without-Seeing-Extradition-of-Victors-Murderer-20231113-0003.html?utm_source=planisys&utm_medium=NewsletterIngles&utm_campaign=NewsletterIngles&utm_content=8
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