Changes

The unrest reportedly began as a protest over a 4-cent increase in subway fares and soon transformed into a larger movement over growing inequality in one of Latin America's wealthiest countries.

The unrest reportedly began as a protest over a 4-cent increase in subway fares and soon transformed into a larger movement over growing inequality in one of Latin America's wealthiest countries.

Tension had already been mounting in the main Chilean cities in the years leading up to the riots: the unemployment rate was about 7.2 percent, a drug epidemic was ravaging the cities, and gang activity, violent crime and lack of respect for authority were high in the working-class suburbs with 7,000 street protests taking place from January 1, 2016 till mid-June 2017 that often ended in violent clashes with Chilean riot police.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gt04jAVClE Dentro de las Fuerzas Especiales | 21 días]</ref>

Tension had already been mounting in the main Chilean cities in the years leading up to the riots: the unemployment rate was about 7.2 percent, a drug epidemic was ravaging the cities, and gang activity, violent crime and lack of respect for authority were high in the working-class suburbs with 7,000 street protests taking place from January 1, 2016, till mid-June 2017 that often ended in violent clashes with Chilean riot police.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gt04jAVClE Dentro de las Fuerzas Especiales | 21 días]</ref>

On October 18, left-wing politician Gabriel Boric Font and lead-singer and guitarist Claudio Valenzuela from the rock band Lucybell took part in the anti-government protests at the 'Plaza Italia', and with TV cameramen capturing the event, both openly condemned the armed Chilean soldiers present that were keeping a watchful eye on the protesters.<ref>[https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/gabriel-boric-claudio-valenzuela-lucybell-video-militares-plaza-italia_20191019/ Diputado Gabriel Boric y Claudio Valenzuela de Lucybell encaran a militares: “¡Llevan armas de guerra!”]</ref>

On October 18, left-wing politician Gabriel Boric Font and lead-singer and guitarist Claudio Valenzuela from the rock band Lucybell took part in the anti-government protests at the 'Plaza Italia', and with TV cameramen capturing the event, both openly condemned the armed Chilean soldiers present that were keeping a watchful eye on the protesters.<ref>[https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/gabriel-boric-claudio-valenzuela-lucybell-video-militares-plaza-italia_20191019/ Diputado Gabriel Boric y Claudio Valenzuela de Lucybell encaran a militares: “¡Llevan armas de guerra!”]</ref>