Farabundo Martí, born on this day in 1893, was a communist revolutionary who led a guerrilla revolt of indigenous farmers in El Salvador that was to be crushed in the peasant massacre known as "La Matanza".

Martí is also known for co-founding of the Communist Party of Central America, as well as helping lead a communist alternative to the Red Cross known as "International Red Aid".

In 1931, Martí returned to El Salvador and helped start a guerrilla revolt of indigenous farmers. The Communist-led peasant uprising against dictator Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, fomented by collapsing coffee prices, enjoyed some initial success, but was soon drowned in a bloodbath, crushed by the Salvadoran military ten days after it had begun. Over 30,000 indigenous people were killed at what was to be a "peaceful meeting" in 1932; this became known as "La Matanza" ("The Slaughter").

For his role in the uprising, Martí was executed by Salvadoran President Hernández Martínez. Martí is the namesake of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, a revolutionary organization during the Salvadoran Civil War and contemporary political party in the country.

"When history cannot be written with a pen, then it should be written with a rifle."

- Farabundo Martí