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>

==Political agitators==

==Political agitators==

 

On October 22, veteran journalist [[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]] blamed the Chilean [[Communist Party]] ('Partido Comunista de Chile' or PCCh) and her political allies for the initial wave of destruction, pointing out that as a young teenager he witnessed the 'Revolución de la Chaucha' unfold when 50,000 protesters angry over the rise in bus fares had ransacked downtown Santiago and completely overwhelmed police in running street battles from June 16–17, 1949 before the intervention of the Chilean Army with orders to shoot-to-kill that finally stamped out the leftist violence.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sMSNeq29g No hay tal crisis social / Comentarios de Hermogenes]</ref><ref>[https://www.guioteca.com/mitos-y-enigmas/la-violenta-revolucion-de-la-chaucha-cuando-santiago-fue-un-campo-de-batalla-por-alza-en-el-transporte-publico/ La violenta “revolución de la chaucha”: Cuando Santiago fue un campo de batalla por alza en el transporte público]</ref> Pérez de Arce witnessed a repeat of the communist tactics during the 'Batalla de Santiago' in early April 1957 when protesters again went on a rampage over a rise in bus fares in the Chilean capital, targeting shops, buses, civilian cars and policemen before the intervention of army reinforcements under General Horacio Gamboa with orders to shoot-to-kill―after first firing warning shots―that quickly restored order in Santiago and elsewhere.<ref>[https://interferencia.cl/articulos/historiador-experto-la-huelga-de-la-chaucha-reflejo-muy-bien-el-agotamiento-de-los Historiador experto: “La 'Huelga de la chaucha' reflejó muy bien el agotamiento de los santiaguinos”]</ref>

On October 22, veteran journalist [[Hermógenes Pérez de Arce]] blamed the Chilean [[Communist Party]] ('Partido Comunista de Chile' or PCCh) and her political allies for the initial wave of destruction, pointing out that as a young teenager he witnessed the 'Revolución de la Chaucha' unfold when 50,000 protesters angry over the rise in bus fares had ransacked downtown Santiago and completely overwhelmed police in running street battles from June 16–17, 1949 before the intervention of the Chilean Army with orders to shoot-to-kill that finally stamped out the leftist violence.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sMSNeq29g No hay tal crisis social / Comentarios de Hermogenes]</ref><ref>[https://www.guioteca.com/mitos-y-enigmas/la-violenta-revolucion-de-la-chaucha-cuando-santiago-fue-un-campo-de-batalla-por-alza-en-el-transporte-publico/ La violenta “revolución de la chaucha”: Cuando Santiago fue un campo de batalla por alza en el transporte público]</ref> Pérez de Arce witnessed a repeat of the communist tactics during the 'Batalla de Santiago' in early April 1957 when protesters again went on a rampage over a rise in bus fares in the Chilean capital, targeting shops, buses, civilian cars and policemen before the intervention of army reinforcements under General Horacio Gamboa with orders to shoot-to-kill―after first firing warning shots―that quickly restored order in Santiago and elsewhere.<ref>[https://interferencia.cl/articulos/historiador-experto-la-huelga-de-la-chaucha-reflejo-muy-bien-el-agotamiento-de-los Historiador experto: “La 'Huelga de la chaucha' reflejó muy bien el agotamiento de los santiaguinos”]</ref>