Tony Saca on west coast

El Salvador's president Tony Saca traveled to California last weekend. While there, he visited Los Angeles and San Francisco where he was greeted by the mayors of both cities. The day was declared a day of friendship between El Salvador and San Francisco. A local television station in Los Angeles has this video report with an interview of Saca.

Saca's visits were met by spirited protesters in both cities. Activists protested in San Francisco and in Los Angeles. You can also watch a video of some of the San Francisco protests.

In addition to Saca's visit with the mayors and a speech to the Central America Press Club in Los Angeles, a dispatch at Indymedia.org reported that president Saca, head of the ARENA political party, would be attending a fundraising picnic where donations to ARENA in amounts up to $10,000 were suggested for attendees. The fundraiser was sponsored by an anti-Castro Cuban American group, and a copy of the invitation letter is available here at the SalvaPress blog. Because El Salvador has no campaign finance law which requires political parties to disclose the amounts and sources of funding, we'll never know how much money was raised.