Over 100,000 protestors marched throughout Buenos Aires streets to mark a year since the fall of former President De la Rua and to continue the demand, "Que Se Vayan Todos" (All the Politicians Out!). Marchers met in the Plaza de Mayo to celebrate a year of grassroots organizing and to reject the capitalist system and government that have created a deepening crisis in Argentina. This mass protest was held one day after a series of nationwide dispersed actions and caravans on December 19.
Piqueteros, popular assemblies, workers from reoccupied factories, Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, human rights groups, feminists, leftist parties, international observers, and independent citizens came to denounce the government's inability to find a solution to Argentina's growing social problems—poverty, hunger, unemployment, and police repression [ 1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | video ]. The demonstrators were protesting the current government, the IMF, and the neoliberal economic model which has left the country devastated, with an unemployment rate of 25% and half of the population living in poverty. Resistance to the status quo has emerged to such a degree that parallel and replacement governance institutions are in the process of forming.
"This is the biggest march I've participated in the past years," states Mirta Israel, activist, professor, and newspaper director. While crossing Buenos Aires' widest avenue, 9 de Julio, columns of marchers filled four streets to arrive to Plaza de Mayo. The Plaza overflowed with participants as marchers continued to arrive to the Plaza in columns.
Protestors' banners echoed the demands of social movements that have blossomed since December 19 and 20, 2001. "Throw out the politicians," and "a congress of unemployed, assemblies, and workers" were some of the central demands of the march.
Solidarity actions were held in London [ 1 | 2 ], Glasgow, Paris, Madrid [ 1 | 2 ], Barcelona [ 1 | 2 ], Euskal Herria, Berlin, Hamburg, Tuebingen, Berne, Oslo, Malmo, Montreal, San Francisco, and elsewhere, especially throughout South America.
[ CMI Argentina | CMI Rosario | CMI Argentina english coverage ]
