Colombia
La marcha por los jubilados que terminó con enfrentamientos entre los barras y la policía, destrozos y heridos
The mobilization typically held by a group of retirees around the National Congress on Wednesdays was accompanied this time by a number of violent soccer fans and political groups opposing the government of Javier Milei.
The National Ministry of Security attempted to enforce an anti-protest protocol, leading to conflicts that began around 4 PM and continued throughout the afternoon.
The clashes resulted in at least 124 arrests, according to official reports, and 46 injures, including 26 police officers, one of whom is hospitalized in critical condition. Demonstrators set two patrol cars on fire along with more than 70 garbage containers.
Photos: RS Fotos, Gaston Taylor, AFP, AP, EFE, REUTERS
Axel Kicillof: “We need to urgently impose limits on this authoritarian rampage”
The governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, spoke about the incidents recorded at Congress. He stated that it was “a violent discharge against retirees and citizens protesting against the cuts”.
“What occurred today is an assault on essential rights of democracy,” he criticized, accusing Manuel Adorni of “lying”. “While a photographer fights for his life, government spokespersons lie, justify the violence, and spread hatred. We need to urgently impose limits on this authoritarian rampage,” he concluded.
Cacerolazos in the City: people took to the streets after the incidents at Congress
Dozens of people gathered in the streets of Buenos Aires following the incidents that occurred near the Congress.
The protest was self-organized. The most significant took place on Avenida Corrientes, where residents began to march toward Plaza de Mayo, accompanied by applause, chants, and pots. Another group headed towards Congress. La Boca, San Telmo, and Caballito were also sites of protest.
Eventually, one group returned to the vicinity of Casa Rosada to demand the release of those detained that afternoon.
Additionally, residents in various neighborhoods expressed their discontent from their balconies with pots and pans.
Patricia Bullrich: “They show the worst of the decadence we are leaving in the past”
Following the destruction and incidents at Congress, Security Minister Patricia Bullrich addressed the situation through her social media accounts. “The detained aggressors show the worst of the decadence we are leaving in the past,” she wrote. Bullrich’s message included a video showing a group of demonstrators attacking a police officer.
Regarding the operation, the minister specified: “We detained over a hundred violent protesters, militants from political groups, and soccer fans who are members of criminal organizations that have acted with total impunity for years.”
Thus, she highlighted that under the new Anti-Mafia Law, the over 100 detainees will face sentences of up to 20 years in prison. “In Argentina, the law prevails, not the mobs or the left,” she concluded.
Chases, gas, and high tension in downtown: how the retirees’ march unfolded
The traditional protest—this Wednesday marred by soccer fan presence—demands pensions that are not poverty-based, the extension of moratoria for retirement, and the reinstatement of free medications
A woman secures two bottles of water from her bag. Another brings hydrogen peroxide. From a first aid kit, cotton emerges. Adolfo raises his left arm: he is 71 years old and has two rubber bullet wounds.
Incidents at Congress: a photographer is hospitalized in critical condition
This involves Pablo Grillo. He suffered loss of brain matter and is fighting for his life at Ramos Mejía Hospital. Additionally, a city police officer was shot, and there have been 124 arrests, including a unionist
Amidst the violence, chaos, blows, and projectiles during the confrontation between demonstrators and police outside Congress, Pablo Grillo, a photographer, suffered a serious head injury that caused loss of brain matter and he is now fighting for his life in Ramos Mejía Hospital, as confirmed to Infobae by city government sources. The injury was caused by a tear gas canister.
The tweet from Adorni condemning the march in front of Casa Rosada
Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni expressed his views on his account on X following the day’s incidents at Congress. He specifically mentioned the situation that occurred in Plaza de Mayo, in front of Casa Rosada, where dozens of soccer fans moved after the disturbances at the national parliament.
“They attacked the Casa Rosada using the stones that honored the deceased from the pandemic. The violent ones have no respect for anything,” wrote the national official.
Adorni referred to the stones left in a specific area of the plaza, as a symbolic tribute made by the families of those who passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic. The stones had been placed in front of the government palace for memorial purposes. The presidential spokesperson pointed out that the demonstrators used them to stone the front of Casa Rosada.
Which groups of soccer fans marched with retirees and clashed with the police
Following the recent presence of Chacarita fans at Congress and online calls, supporters from dozens of clubs were involved in the incidents this Wednesday
This Wednesday, the traditional weekly retirees’ call to Congress faced one of the most violent days in its history. The presence of soccer fans and supporters from many clubs, along with union members and leftist activists, not only increased the number of participants but raised the tension to boiling points.
Javier Milei’s post following the incidents at Congress
President Javier Milei took to his X account to comment on the violent incidents that occurred this afternoon during the retirees’ march, which was infiltrated by soccer fans.
“It was an attempt at a coup d’état,” said the press undersecretary
Javier Lanari, national communications official, expressed on his account on X a different interpretation of the events this afternoon at Congress. “Perfectly orchestrated by the dirtiest in politics,” the presidential undersecretary stated.
He further added: “With soccer fans looking for chaos, violence, and deaths. The usual coup plotters. They won’t succeed,” he said.
The brutal moment a police officer pushes an elderly woman
One of the most brutal scenes of the day occurred in front of the Congress steps when an elderly woman, estimated to be around 87 years old, approached a group of police officers and received a violent shove that knocked her to the ground.
The woman fell heavily to the ground and remained there sprawled out.
