“If We Don’t Fuck Shit Up, We Don’t Exist to Them”
Chile’s most marginalized workers are leading a revolt that threatens the country’s entire political order. Now is the time for an escalation of the struggle into a national strike that can build a real economic and political democracy in its wake.
A demonstrator waves a Chilean flag during a protest against President Sebastian Piñera on October 21, 2019 in Santiago, Chile.Marcelo Hernandez / Getty
Two years ago, nationwide elections began reshaping Chile’s oligarchic party system. But the pace of change was too slow to prevent festering discontent and outrage against the political class from boiling over into the streets.
The last few days of spontaneous and uncontainable protests, looting, and arson will leave in ruins a regime that in the eyes of the working and poor masses has long worn out its welcome. This is just the beginning they tell us, and as the fires spread and burn out, Chile will be transformed irreversibly. But when the smoke clears, what will the new Chile look like?
The Eruption of Class Rage
The immediate trigger for the uprising was the executive’s October 1 announcement that peak subway fares would increase by a 30 pesos.
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