Ronni Moffitt
Encyclopedia
Ronni Moffitt was a American political activist.
as Ronni Susan Karpen on January 10, 1951 to Murray and Hilda Karpen. She was the oldest of three children including Harry Karpen and Michael Karpen. Her family owned a restaurant called "Karpen's" and was well known in New Jersey. She started playing the flute at a young age while her brothers played the french horn. She attended Passaic High School.
, where she became involved in political activism, participating in protests. After her time in university, she became a counselor for underprivileged children and then a teacher in a public school in Maryland. Following this, she began working at the Institute for Policy Studies
in Washington as a fundraiser. She helped create the "Music Carry-Out", teaching music and making musical instruments that were made available to the underprivileged.
On September 21, 1976 she was traveling with her husband, Michael Moffitt and Orlando Letelier
to the Institute of Policy Studies
, when a bomb was ignited under Letelier's car. Letelier had served under Chilean leader Salvador Allende
and was the target of an assassination plot by U.S.-backed Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet
. Letelier and Moffitt were both killed. Her husband Michael Moffitt survived. Michael Townley
, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent and operative of the Chilean secret police (DINA) confessed to planting the bomb and served 62 months in prison.
in Washington D.C., and by the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award
administered by the Institute For Policy Studies
in her honor.
Early Life
She was born in Passaic, New JerseyPassaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
as Ronni Susan Karpen on January 10, 1951 to Murray and Hilda Karpen. She was the oldest of three children including Harry Karpen and Michael Karpen. Her family owned a restaurant called "Karpen's" and was well known in New Jersey. She started playing the flute at a young age while her brothers played the french horn. She attended Passaic High School.
Biography
She attended the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where she became involved in political activism, participating in protests. After her time in university, she became a counselor for underprivileged children and then a teacher in a public school in Maryland. Following this, she began working at the Institute for Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies is a left-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C..It has been directed by John Cavanagh since 1998- History :...
in Washington as a fundraiser. She helped create the "Music Carry-Out", teaching music and making musical instruments that were made available to the underprivileged.
On September 21, 1976 she was traveling with her husband, Michael Moffitt and Orlando Letelier
Orlando Letelier
Marcos Orlando Letelier del Solar was a Chilean economist, Socialist politician and diplomat during the presidency of Socialist President Salvador Allende...
to the Institute of Policy Studies
Institute of Policy Studies
The Institute of Policy Studies may refer to*the Institute of Policy Studies at the Victoria University of Wellington*the Institute of Policy Studies in Islamabad*the Institute of Policy Studies...
, when a bomb was ignited under Letelier's car. Letelier had served under Chilean leader Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
and was the target of an assassination plot by U.S.-backed Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
. Letelier and Moffitt were both killed. Her husband Michael Moffitt survived. Michael Townley
Michael Townley
Michael Vernon Townley is a US citizen currently living in the United States under terms of the federal witness protection program. A Central Intelligence Agency agent and operative of the Chilean secret police, DINA, Townley confessed, was convicted, and served 62 months in prison in the United...
, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agent and operative of the Chilean secret police (DINA) confessed to planting the bomb and served 62 months in prison.
Legacy
Her death is commemorated with a small plaque in Sheridan CircleSheridan Circle
Sheridan Circle is a traffic circle in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Embassy Row. It is named for General Philip Sheridan, Union general of the American Civil War and later general of the United States Army...
in Washington D.C., and by the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award
Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award
The Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award is awarded annually by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Policy Studies. It is awarded to those advancing the cause of human rights in the Americas. The Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award commemorates Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt, who in 1976...
administered by the Institute For Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies
Institute for Policy Studies is a left-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C..It has been directed by John Cavanagh since 1998- History :...
in her honor.
Further reading
- Letelier caseLetelier caseThe Letelier case refers to the killing in Washington, D.C. of Orlando Letelier, a Chilean political figure and later United States-based activist, along with his American assistant, Ronni Moffitt...