Bartolomé de las Casas

Born in Seville, Spain, Bartolomé de las Casas arrived in the New World as a young man, initially participating in the very encomienda system he would later vociferously condemn. After witnessing the atrocities committed against the indigenous populations, he underwent a profound conversion, dedicating the remainder of his long life to their defense.

As the first resident Bishop of Chiapas and later dubbed "Protector of the Indians," de las Casas relentlessly campaigned against the enslavement and genocide of Native Americans. He penned numerous treatises, most famously "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies," which vividly detailed Spanish cruelties and influenced debates on human rights for centuries.

Despite his tireless efforts and moral courage, de las Casas often found himself a lone voice against powerful economic and political interests. While he didn't always succeed in stopping the atrocities, his advocacy laid crucial groundwork for international human rights law and remains a testament to standing up for the oppressed, even when it’s deeply unpopular.