Fray Bartolomé de las Casas

Fray Bartolomé de las Casas was a 16th-century Spanish priest and missionary who dedicated his life to defending the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Initially a colonizer, he later became an advocate for their protection, speaking out against the brutal treatments and forced labor they faced under Spanish rule. His efforts helped inspire laws to improve Indigenous rights and raised awareness about the atrocities committed during colonization. De las Casas is remembered as a pioneering human rights advocate who dedicated himself to justice and compassion for oppressed peoples.