Olvo Colvéz Navino
| Born | Olvo Mateo Colvéz Navino June 10, 1894 |
|---|---|
| Died | July 5, 1953 (aged 53) |
| Cause of death | Bombing |
| Years active | 1924-1953 |
| Organization | Red Eagle |
| Known for | Creating the Red Eagle, organizing multiple strikes in Rakeo |
| Political party |  Action Party for San Pedro (1924-1925)Areĝa (1931-1937) |
| Criminal status | Deceased |
| Criminal charge | Illegal prevention of wartime manufacturing |
| Penalty | Death |
Olvo Mateo Colvéz Navino (July 20th, 1900-June 5th, 1953) was a political activist, labor organizer, and convicted criminal who founded and led the anti-war/miguelist group Red Eagle from 1937-1953. Originally born in Puerto Atlántida, he moved to Rakeo in 1917 (then still a colonial possession of the empire) pursuing work. As an agricultural worker, he was made deeply aware of the class divisions of the island.
Political career
In 1923, Olvo organized a strike in the hemp fields of the Jinosiá Hemp Company. Scabs were brought in to break the strike, and the demands of the union went unmet. JH Co. later met with parliament to design the 1924 Right to Contract act, which allowed companies to aggressively crack down on internal union activities with governmental support.
Disillusioned with the failure, Olvo fled back to San Pedro, Creeperopolis. Living off an allowance created by his compatriots back in Rakeo, he met and trained with members from the paramilitary wing of Action Party for San Pedro. Prior to the San Pedro coup attempt, Colvéz Navino returned, in hiding, back to the island of Rakeo.
Once again he began to expand his connections, associating with members of the nationalist Areĝa party, and eventually having enough political legitimacy to stop hiding from the law. When Areĝa was banned and the Creeperian Civil War began, a confident Olvo created the Red Eagle group to both continue the party’s goal of “removing the unspoken colonialism still present in the government and actions of our nation”, as well as pursuing his own goals of liberating the agricultural worker.
In 1939, the Red Eagle led the first successful strike in the hemp industry, shutting down a fabric producing factory for 60 days. As scabs were brought in, they were stoned by passersby, and group members turned back buses, sometimes blocking roads with their bodies. Finally, parliament conceded the demands for a work-free Sunday and increased pay. A similar 1941 strike at a munitions plant ended in disaster- and the group was deemed an illegal organization. Strikebreakers fired on RE members following a confrontation between scabs and strikers, and military force was eventually used to disperse the strike.
Once again, Olvo went underground. While the group (and its leader) would begin mainly focused on nationalist liberation rhetoric, they would continue to move further left as it became clear that other groups did not support its aims of reclaiming industry for the worker. In 1952, the group claimed to have adopted “Miguelist Goals and Style ”, leading to a split in the organization.
The styling of Red Eagle flag was later co-opted by the Militants for National Revival, although it largely disagreed (oftentimes violently) with the leftist leaning of the group.
Olvo Colvez himself was killed on June 5th, 1953 when a bomb hit his residence during an air raid. His death was confirmed by Red Eagle officials on the 8th.
Legacy
Olvo Colvez remains an obscure figure for much of the world, but has admirers in leftist and communist nations. In Rakeo, displaying his likeness has been illegal since 1957, and as a self-declared Miguelist, Creeperian law also prohibits distribution of his writings.
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