Masses of Chileans jam capital in protest against government

Eva Vergara, Associated Press Updated 8:26 pm CDT, Friday, October 25, 2019



Photo: Rodrigo Abd, AP
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People gather during an anti-government protest in Santiago, Chile, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. At least 19 people have died in the turmoil that has swept the South American nation. The unrest began as a protest over a 4-cent increase in subway fares and soon morphed into a larger movement over growing inequality in one of Latin America's wealthiest countries.


SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched peacefully in Chile's capital Friday, intensifying pressure on a government struggling to contain deadly unrest over economic hardship.

The huge throng surged toward a central plaza as participants blew whistles, banged pots and pans and carried Chilean flags and posters demanding change. The diverse crowd included students, workers, parents and their children.

"All of Chile is marching here," Santiago Mayor Karla Rubilar said, adding that there was hope as well as sadness among the demonstrators.

The official crowd estimate was 1 million, the mayor said.

"After what we saw in the streets of Santiago today, it's hard to imagine a way forward that does not involve" the resignation of President Sebastián Piñera and new elections, said Jenny Pribble, associate professor of political science at the University of Richmond in the United States.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Truckers-strike-in-Chile-in-new-challenge-to-14562343.php

LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142386609