Urban Blockade : Argentina Indymedia (( i ))

Urban Blockade
Marie Trigona

Over 1,000 protestors blocked streets in Buenos Aires’ financial district on December 19 “to make the streets free of capitalism.” This urban blockade was organized as part of the extensive actions planned for December 19 and 20. Protesters cut streets in front of banks and transnational corporations beginning at 9 in the morning.

Popular neighborhood assemblies, art collectives, the gay, lesbian, transsexual, and bisexual community, cacerolazos, global resistance groups, piquetero groups, left parties and human rights groups participated in the actions under the banner, “Que Se Vayan Todos” (All the politicians out!).

Participants created a festive atmosphere with street theatre, singing, drum brigades, street art, and colorful banners. One protestor with a covered face held a tire, symbolic of the piqueteros and a giant cardboard fork with the word “hunger” written. Protestors stenciled graffiti reading “economic terrorism” and “accomplices in the murder of children.” Some banners read “no to the free trade agreement of the Americas,” and “against repression, hunger, unemployment, power, and corruption.”

Organizers declared, “We decided to come together to reject an economic system that exploits us, takes away our liberty, destroys the environment, and abolishes democracy. We protest against economic terrorism that the transnational corporations and economic powers impose. They are responsible for hunger, unemployment, financial crisis, exploitation of the “savers” with money in the banks, and thousands disappeared in this country.”

The protest was non-violent in the face of heavy police presence. The only incident of disruption occurred when a frustrated driver stuck in traffic hit another driver.

The march concluded around 3pm in front of the obelisco.

this seems a little small doesn't it? what happened to the popular revolt??

this demonstration in the financial district is only one of many small demonstrations and cacerolazos that occurred throughout Buenos Aires yesterday during day and evening. The piquetero marches of today are expected to be in the thousands.

No one here expected the numbers on Dec 19 to be what they were last year, these are different times. Much of the middle class who went out into the streets last year is desenchanted, and/or security conscious (frightened). Others are building a new Argentine society in different and perhaps less obvious ways than taking to the streets.

There is a common saying here that power is constructed, not taken. The construction of power takes many different forms, and going out into the streets is only one of them.