Remembering Alvarito Conrado, the 15-Year-Old Killed While Delivering Water to Protesters
On April 20, 2018, Álvaro Manuel Conrado Dávila was only trying to deliver water. Unbeknownst to his parents, the 15-year-old was heading to the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería to support the students fighting the social security reforms that had set off protests across Nicaragua. He wore blue jeans, sneakers, a white cap, and a red jacket. He had turned only turned 15 about two weeks before. He wasn’t a threat, and yet, the government shot him. A bullet hit his neck, and he was transferred to Hospital Cruz Azul, where he was denied medical attention, on orders of the government. He was then taken to Hospital Bautista, where he underwent surgery, but unfortunately, he had lost too much blood and Alvarito died that day.
He died just two days after the start of the government protests, which have yet to cease, just two days after his father warned him to steer clear of the action. “He told me that he was going to support the young people protesting, and I told him that he wasn’t old enough to be a part of it, that it was too dangerous,” his father, Álvaro Conrado, told BBC Mundo.
He may have disobeyed his father’s wishes, but Alvarito didn’t deserve to be shot or to be allowed to bleed to death. Instead of quelling demonstrators, his death angered and motivated Nicaraguans. His words – “me duele respirar” – became a rallying cry and a reminder that the government stole his future.
“Everything here is unfair,” his father added. “He had dreams, which we were getting ready for. He had learned English. He planned to study derecho at UCA [Universidad Centroamericana], and we were going to find a scholarship for him outside of the country.”
He’s now known as “El niño mártir,” but he should be remembered for more than that. He was an older brother. An athlete. A high-achieving student. A musician. A good person.
Today, he should have been a 16-year-old worrying about relationships, school, the future – the typical stuff that consume teenagers. Instead his life – and that of hundred of others – was cut short.