Thousands of students, teachers and social organizations took to the streets of Santiago to protest against the cuts by the Government of José Antonio Kast in education, health and housing. The Police used tear gas and water cannons; There were six injured, 35 detained and a university student who underwent emergency surgery, whose images went viral and generated outrage.

First modification: 06/04/2026 - 22:55 Last modification: 06/04/2026 - 23:34

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Thousands of students, teachers and social organizations took to the streets of Santiago to protest against the economic policies of the Government of Chilean President José Antonio Kast.

The day ended with strong clashes, 35 detainees, six injured and a young woman undergoing emergency surgery whose images went viral and revived the national debate on police repression.

Why did they march?

The march, called by the Confederation of Chilean Students (Confech) and supported by the College of Teachers, the 8M Feminist Coordinator and other organizations, was the first major mobilization since Kast took power in March.

Shouting "Public education is defended!", the protesters reject the far-right president's adjustment plan: cuts of about 6 billion dollars in 18 months that especially hit education — with a reduction of about 221 million dollars — and health, the most affected area, with almost 486 million less.

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They also questioned a tax reform that, according to the opposition, would benefit large companies and the richest sectors.

Two days before, Kast had announced the creation of a registry of "vandals" - people who attack the Police or damage public monuments - with the aim of taking away state benefits, including free university fees. For the students, it was a direct provocation.

The protest began peacefully, but in the afternoon it led to clashes involving hooded people and repressed by the Police with water cannons and tear gas.

Several streets were closed and various subway stations had to close their doors.

Read alsoKast shakes up his cabinet: after two months of the Government, he relieves his spokesperson and the Minister of Security

An injured young woman and an image that went around the world

A young university student ended up in the operating room with serious injuries. The National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) confirmed that "intervention in the ward was required."

His face full of blood went viral on social networks and generated international criticism, including that of the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro.

The banners were clear: "No more cuts, it's not adjustment, it's theft" or "with the cuts, health doesn't make it past August."

"It's like an attack on the poorest people, because they are the ones who use social benefits, not the people who have money," a 47-year-old teacher told the AFP agency.

"They want to silence us, but we are not going to stop," added Magdalena Correa, a 21-year-old Pedagogy student. "They are taking away our resources and rights, and we have to fight back," he told the AP.

Read alsoChile: Kast presents mega reform to boost investment by reducing taxes

Kast defends police actions

The Kast Government, for its part, supported the security forces.

Security Minister Martín Arrau said that "a society that aspires to live in peace cannot normalize violence or selectively victimize." While the presidential delegate of the Metropolitan Region, Germán Codina, assured that the police response was proportional to "situations that got out of control."

Arrau also pointed out that three of the detainees were carrying Molotov cocktails.

From the other side, the president of the College of Teachers, Mario Aguilar, accused the right-wing Administration of having deliberately sought conflict:

"He sought to provoke this, he sought to create this situation to justify the repression."

The mobilization also expressed rejection of the so-called National Reconstruction Law - or "megarreform" -, the ambitious fiscal adjustment program that has already obtained half a sanction in the Chamber of Deputies and still must pass through the Senate.

Kast, who usually refers to the social outbreak of 2019 as a "crime outbreak", thus faces the first street test of his mandate.

With EFE, AFP and AP

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