Photographer in coma after Argentina police hit pensioner protest hard [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Photographer in coma and scores injured as police use teargas, rubber bullets and water cannon against retirees

Harriet Barber in Buenos Aires
Thu 13 Mar 2025 11.21 EDT

Argentina’s hardline security minister is facing calls to resign after the violent police response to a protest by pensioners left a photographer in a coma and scores of other people injured.

More than 1,000 riot police used teargas, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse demonstrators late on Wednesday.

Retirees gather every week in front of Congress to demand an increase in pensions and the restoration of certain free medications, which have been hit by President Javier Milei’s austerity programme.

This week the number of protesters swelled after fans from some of the country’s biggest football clubs, including Boca Juniors and River Plate, joined the rally.

To the sound of trumpets and drums, elderly marchers waved walking sticks and signs reading: “Don’t hit us, we are your parents,” and “Help me fight – you’ll be the next elderly person.”

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/13/argentina-pensioner-protest-police-violence