This Friday, the center of Santiago experienced a day colored by government repression. Chile commemorated the fifth anniversary of the October 2019 revolt throughout the country with reflections, debates and demonstrations. Posters against abuse, inequality, the deficit in rights such as health, education, housing, and allusions to the political and economic elite multiplied in every corner, along with the cry “Chile woke up.”
Five years after the start of the revolt, these slogans were again present by those who went to the place that was baptized as “Plaza Dignidad” (Plaza Baquedano) to commemorate 18-O in the center of Santiago. But the repression with which the Boric Government tried to silence this demonstration was also present.
Early in the morning, a breakfast was held near the Front of the Theater of the University of Chile in the place where “The Garden of Resistance” was, with the presence of at least 30 people. Subsequently, relatives of victims of violence by State agents during the social outbreak gathered at the Mauricio Fredes Memorial, specifically on the corner of Irene Morales Street, to display banners and photographs of their loved ones. They showed the faces of the deceased and victims of ocular trauma, among others, during the social protests.
At around 6 p.m., different protesters and social organizations moved to Plaza Dignidad. However, the demonstration failed to take place due to the large police contingent that prevented them from gathering and entering the street. Cars throwing water and gas, police pickets and a large number of security vehicles repressed and attacked the protesters.
“It has been a day marked by repression. Once again the indiscriminate use of deterrent weapons has caused serious respiratory problems, panic attacks, injuries in a disproportionate act outside of all protocol”says Blue Helmets, one of the human rights brigades that was present on the street.
Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com
