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The largest demonstration in Chile since the fall of 1990 dictator Augusto Pinochet gathered at least one million people in Santiago on Friday when a week of protests against social inequality in the country is celebrated.
Although the call was for 17.00 local time (20.00 GMT), the immense Plaza Italia, the nerve center of the biggest wave of protests in the democratic history of Chile, looked crowded half an hour earlier while thousands of people stayed in the nearby avenues without being able to arrive.
Something more than an hour after the mentioned time, the concentration already gathered more than one million people, according to the figures of the Metropolitan Intendance, and was increasing as the minutes passed.
The crowd overflowed the epicenter of social unrest to demand the departure of President Sebastián Piñera for repression and alleged human rights violations committed by law enforcement against protesters in previous days.
Also because the package of measures proposed by the president to satisfy requests for better pensions and salaries, and for fairer prices for electricity, gas, university education and health services is insufficient .
# CHILED AWAKEN, BIG.
A giant flag began to unfold among the crowd with the slogan "Chile awoke", the slogan that has proliferated through social networks, accompanied by the phrase "We are not at war", in reference to the declaration of war that Piñera made against the Causes of fires in supermarkets and Metro stations.
Another large banner called for "constituent assembly" to draft a new Constitution that replaces the Magna Carta of the dictatorship that has ruled in Chile since 1980 and to which protesters blame the neo-liberal economic model that has exacerbated inequality between different social classes.
"For the dignity of our people, to the street without fear," read another large sign that hung from the top of one of the buildings that surround the emblematic square of Santiago.
In the center of the square, the brave bars of the University of Chile, Colo Colo and Universidad Católica, the three most historic clubs in Chilean football, protested.
NEITHER THE AMERICAN BOTTLES MEETED SO MANY PEOPLE.
Not even the two American Cups that the Chilean team conquered in 2015 and 2016 had managed to gather so many people in the Plaza Italia.
With this massive demonstration, a new weekend began of protests that have been increasing since they exploded due to the rise in fares in the Santiago Metro from 800 pesos (1.10 dollars) to 830 pesos (1, 14 dollars), which exhausted the patience of Chileans.
People took to the streets like never before since the beginning of these protests despite the fact that after 23.00 local time (02.00 GMT, Saturday) a new night curfew was set , the eighth consecutive.
Mobilizations had already begun early in other parts of the city with caravans of taxis and trucks that blocked access to the city. At the same time the demonstrations were replicated in other cities such as Concepción, in the south.
"Chile lives a historic day. It is a peaceful march that represents the dream of a new Chile, in a transversal way without distinction," said Metropolitan Mayor Karla Rubilar.
WEEKS TO WELCOME IMPORTANT SUMMITS.
This wave of protests, which has a balance of 19 dead, at least 600 injured and 6,000 detainees, according to the Prosecutor's Office, occurs within a few weeks of Santiago hosting a series of important summits.
In three weeks it must host the summit of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC), where the possible arrival of the presidents of the United States, Donald Trump, is expected; from Russia, Vladimir Putin; and from China, Xi Jinping.
In one month the same city must organize the final of the Copa Libertadores and in December the twenty-fifth world climate summit (COP25) is set, where at least 12,000 people are expected to arrive.
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