Ed Asner to Talk on El Salvador in Laguna Niguel

Ed Asner, who was in Nicaragua as part of a cultural exchange group observing last Sunday’s elections, was--to say the least--surprised by their outcome.

“It was unbelievable, astounding,” the actor said. “Everyone was just flabbergasted.”

Asner, best known for his portrayal on television of newsman Lou Grant, has become almost as well known for his activism on behalf of liberal political causes. He will be at Mann’s Rancho Niguel Theatre in Laguna Niguel on Sunday, speaking at a screening of “Romero,” a 1989 film about Oscar Romero, who became archbishop of El Salvador in 1977 and was killed after voicing opposition to the political regime.

Nicaraguan voters Sunday rejected Sandinista President Daniel Ortega in favor of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, who’d been supported by the Bush Administration.

Although Asner believes the election process was fair, he is worried that the vote was not so much an endorsement of the winning political coalition as it was a reflection of Nicaraguans’ desire to escape the effects of a U.S.-sponsored economic boycott and Contra war.

“The people of Nicaragua had a 600-pound gorilla on their backs for 10 years,” Asner said, referring to U.S. support of the Contras, “and they decided they didn’t want a hernia.”

Asner’s talk Sunday will focus on El Salvador, he said.

Ed Asner will speak Sunday at 2 p.m. at a screening of “Romero” at Mann’s Rancho Niguel Theatre, 25471 Rancho Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel. Admission: $6. Information: (714) 831-0446.