Women's League

This was the first time the Jews had been driven out of an independent nation in South America.

In 1827 a group of Jews emigrated from the tiny island of Curacao to a nearby mainland port city of Coro, Venezuela. Twenty-eight years later, violent rioting drove the entire Jewish population of 168 individuals back to Curacao. The hostility directed at the Coro’s Jews was partly due to economics. Venezuela banking system was in chaos, its government corrupt and unemployment rampant. Phobia and resentment of foreigners was running high.

Curacao Jews had immigrated to Coro at the urging of the colony’s Dutch government. In 1831, the Creole resident of Coro rioted to protest the rapid economic success that the immigrant Jewish shopkeepers and merchants Had attained. While the local government suppressed the riots, in 1831 it imposed a special security bond which only Coro Jewish merchants had to pay. The Jewish businessman protested, so in 1835 the local government revised the tax so that all foreign entrepreneurs, had to pay twice as much as their business license. Despite the burden, hostility of the population, the Jewish merchants prospered. Their success could not have gone unnoticed by the general population or government.

Starting in 1840s, the municipal government of Coro and the local military garrison asked the Jewish community for loans as advances against their taxes, these were made interest free, and at times were simply voluntary. Contributions as it became clear that the loans would not be repaid. With the passing of time these payments became not a financial resource which the government could tap in case of urgent need, but a regular source of funds which came to be expected.

Fearing that the local military would grow powerful at the expense of civilian rule, the national government of Venezuela asked the Jews of Coro not to pay these levies to fund salaries for the local garrison. The Jewish community acquiesced to the central government request and declined to meet any request for funds. On January 30,1855, unable to meet the payroll, the military command at Coro was dismissed.

A pamphlet was circulating that blamed the Jews for the misery of the community and merchants now that the military was gone. It concluded by warning the Jews to leave Coro. Two nights later a band of 30 armed men wandered through the streets, shooting at Jewish homes, tearing doors down and looting the shops belonging to Jewish Merchants. 

By February 10 the last of the Coro Jews had fled the city on a ship sent by the government of Curacao to recue its citizens. That day a pamphlet circulated the Jews are expelled by the people. With them, went the funds for any loans. The Dutch governor of Curacao strongly protested their expulsion and demanded that they be compensated for their safe return to their adopted city.

On May 6, 1858, Venezuela government agreed to pay damages and guarantee a safe return of the Coro Jews. But the Coro community did not want the Jews back as they have