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La Marcha del Silencio

Buenos Aires, 18 February 2015.

Background: La Marcha del Silencio was called to honor Alberto Nisman, a federal prosecutor who was investigating a 20-year-old terrorist attack and, more recently, alleged wrong-doing by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He died in his apartment on January 18 under suspicious circumstances the day before he was to testify before Congress. With it’s long and gruesome history of political violence, Argentina has been on edge ever since.

One month later, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets.

Avenida de Mayo. Marching from Congress to La Casa Rosada. Umbrellas everywhere. Usually Argentines stay inside at the first sign of rain. Not this day.

March of Silence

Avenida de Mayo was bursting with so many people you couldn’t move, so the crowd moved toward the Plaza de Mayo along side streets.

On a sidestreet

Former President Nestor Kirchner greets the marchers.

NESTOR KIRCHNER SALUDA

A river of umbrellas.

River of Umbrellas

Political myths are written large in Argentina. Evita looks down on the march.

Evitas

No march is complete without a fleet of flag sellers and rolling barbecue stands.

NISMAN-IMG_9614

After two hours in the rain, the call of something hot off the grill was irresistible.

NISMAN-IMG_9619

Before: Earlier in the day I snapped this picture as I crossed the Plaza de Mayo.

Plaza de Mayo in the afternoon

After: Heading home after the march, I took this picture. Everything is peaceful. Little seems to have changed, but in the world of Argentine politics, many things changed today.

Plaza de Mayo at night 18FEB2015

One response to “La Marcha del Silencio”

  1. Terence Clarke Avatar

    Fine pictures, Kevin. Lo siento que no estuvieramos para marchar también. ¡Viva la solidaridad! Todo va bien acá… Terry

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