Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

The organization claims that “socialist ideals” are an example to “people who seek a world free of domination and exploitation,” and that capitalism is “fundamentally unjust, oppressive and ecologically unsustainable.” ²

Since its inception, CISPES has been a supporter of the Farabundo Marti­ National Liberation Front (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional or FMLN), the predominant left-of-center to radical-left political party in El Salvador, which began as a guerrilla army that was opposed to the government of El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War, which began in 1979. Three factions that made up the guerrilla army, which received support from Cuba and the Soviet Union, originated in the Communist Party of El Salvador. ^{3 4}

Background

The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador is a left-of-center advocacy organization that organizes strategic campaigns against the involvement of corporations and the United States government within El Salvador. Founded in 1980, the organization’s national headquarters sits in Washington, D.C., but has local chapters across the United States. ¹

CISPES states that it supports the people of El Salvador’s “struggle for self-determination and social and economic justice,” claiming that the “alternative” based on “socialist ideals” is an example to “people who seek a world free of domination and exploitation.” CISPES argues that capitalism is “fundamentally unjust, oppressive, and ecologically unsustainable.” ²

CISPES states that one of its goals is to assist in building a “broad-based progressive U.S. social movement,” as well as an international social justice movement led by the working class. ²

Support of the FMLN

Since its inception, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador has been a supporter of the Farabundo Marti­ National Liberation Front (Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional or FMLN). ²

The FMLN began as a guerrilla army that was opposed to the government of El Salvador during the Salvadoran Civil War, which began in 1979. Three factions that made up the FMLN originated in the Communist Party of El Salvador. Both Cuba and the Soviet Union supported the FMLN. The United States viewed the civil war as a major front of the Cold War and supplied the Salvadoran Army. ^{3 4}

The civil war lasted until 1992 when the United Nations mediated negotiations between government and guerrilla forces, resulting in the Chapultepec Peace Accords being signed in Mexico City on January 16, 1992. Under the terms of the Chapultepec Accords, Salvadoran government forces were restricted in size, and democratic institutions such as independent judicial councils were implemented. ³

The FMLN dissolved its military in February 1992 and became an official political party of El Salvador. FMLN is still the major left-wing political party in El Salvador, though it is not represented in the national Legislative Assembly as of October 2025. ^{3 5}

People

Steve Powell, who works for the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, sits on the board of directors for Massachusetts Peace Action (MPA), the Massachusetts branch of Peace Action, an advocacy group that supports a non-interventionist foreign policy and nuclear disarmament. The MPA trains activists, organizes protests, and lobbies elected officials and political candidates to advocate for its goals. ^{6 7}

Ellen Braune was the communications director of the CISPES from 1986 until 1990. Braune was the senior vice president of the left-of-center public relations firm Fenton Communications from 1998 to 2001, director of communications at the New York City-based left-wing public policy advocacy group Demos from 2002 until 2005, and was the vice president of communications at the Ms. Foundation for Women, a left-of-center nonprofit that supports feminist policies, including expanded contraception and abortion access. ⁸

Braune was also the vice president of strategic communications for the left-of-center grantmaking organization New York Women’s Foundation, from May 2011 until December 2011; the director of communications for the left-of-center Opportunity Agenda from June 2012 until February 2016; and director of communications from November 2016 until November 2017 at the Surdna Foundation, an advocacy and endowment management foundation. ⁸

Braune was also a volunteer for Jewish Voice for Peace, a left-wing Jewish group that opposes U.S. assistance to the State of Israel and supports allowing Palestinians to live on land within Israel vacated by Arabs during the Israeli War of Independence, and also volunteered at Showing Up for Racial Justice, a Louisville, Kentucky-based far-left agitation group. According to her LinkedIn profile, Braune began volunteering for Jewish Voice for Peace in 2018 and Showing Up for Racial Justice in January 2025. She still volunteers for the organizations as of October 2025. ^{8 9}

Financials

The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador receives most of its revenue from contributions, gifts, and grants. ¹⁰ The organization reported total revenue of $64,079 in 2023, all of which came from contributions. Its expenses amounted to $52,313, while its net assets came to $135,602. ¹⁰