Argentina: Police Assault at Least 30 Journalists at Pro-Democracy Protest
Since President Milei's election in November last year, there has been a significant surge in press freedom violations in Argentina, as documented by Women Press Freedom
Location: Argentina, Buenos Aires
Date: February 1, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the excessive police force to disperse protesters outside Congress, resulting in injuries to over 30 journalists, among them Celeste Alonso, Daniela María Coradeghini, Diana Quiroz, Kresta Pepe, Lorena Tapia, Paula Acunzo, Sol Arezo, and Susi Maresca. We are deeply troubled by the reports of law enforcement officers employing water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas against civilians and the press. This latest incident follows a steep increase in press freedom violations Women Press Freedom has documented in Argentina since President Milei’s election in November last year. We demand authorities take immediate and decisive action to protect journalists, uphold the freedom of the press, and ensure that those responsible for violations of these principles are held accountable. It is the duty of the government to safeguard these values, ensuring a safe and enabling environment for all journalists to perform their essential role in society.
"They're treating us in a very violent and degrading manner,” says Susi Maresca in an exclusive interview with CFWIJ about the police violence she and at least 30 other journalists endured during pro-democracy protests on February 1. Maresca, who was targetted with rubber bullets, injuring her leg, says she has a target on her back as being part of the press. “They see your camera, and they target you. There's no provocation.”
On February 1, 2024, protests against President Javier Milei's proposed reform package, known as the omnibus bill, entered its second day. The bill, which Milei aims to push through, grants the president additional legislative powers — including the ability to declare a state of emergency in certain matters, proposes the mass privatization of state companies, and advocates for wholesale economic deregulation.
The situation escalated when Federal Police officers fired rubber bullets, including at children among the protestors, as per Martín Vega, a photojournalist from Crisis magazine. Vega was struck by two rubber bullets, one hitting his finger and the other his leg. Similarly, photojournalist Nicolás Ramos, from the news outlet Anred, exhibited a wound on his calf caused by a rubber bullet.
“The press is a target. When I was shot, they had trapped the press, that's why so many of us were shot,” Maresca tells Women Press Freedom.
“The press is a target. When I was shot, they had trapped the press, that’s why so many of us were shot”
The police crackdown, which left many injured, including 30 journalists, unfolded in two stages, with the use of fire trucks to advance on the protesters in the late afternoon. Inside Congress, deputy Romina del Pla from the left-wing party Frente de Izquierda called for the session to be suspended due to the violence outside. The proposal was endorsed by Germán Martínez, head of the Unión por la Patria bloc, but was ultimately rejected.
Photographs taken at the scene revealed that security forces used a combination of OC gas (pepper spray) and CS gas (tear gas) to disperse the crowd. Franco Capone, a doctor and activist with the Socialist Workers’ Party, assisted over 150 people affected by the gas, describing it as causing acute pain upon contact with the skin.
The Buenos Aires Press Union (SiPreBA), in a statement condemning the repression, stressed the importance of upholding press freedom as a fundamental pillar of democracy. The police crackdown occurred after Security Minister Patricia Bullrich implemented an anti-protest protocol that prohibits protesters from blocking roads, among other provisions. Three United Nations special rapporteurs recently criticized the protocol, stating that it fails to comply with international human rights standards.
On January 31, social media circulated photographs of a Federal Police officer with a Gadsden rattlesnake sewn onto his uniform, a symbol associated with the far right in the United States and adopted by Milei’s followers. Additionally, images surfaced showing Naval Prefecture officers deploying tear gas against a group of protesters that included left-wing deputy Alejandro Vilca. Eduardo Belliboni, leader of the Polo Obrero social organization, claimed that he was hit by police officers while peacefully protesting by sitting in the street.
Included in the list of injured journalists were six women: Celeste Alonso, Daniela María Coradeghini, Diana Quiroz, Kresta Pepe, Lorena Tapia, Paula Acunzo, Sol Arezo, and Susi Maresca. This incident underscores the alarming environment of violence directed towards women journalists in Argentina, a trend that has intensified since President Milei's ascendance to power.
“I feel an ethical duty to go out there and show the reality”
It isn’t stopping the journalists from doing their job, however. “I feel an ethical duty to go out there and show the reality,” Maresca tells Women Press Freedom.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom unreservedly stands with Celeste Alonso, Daniela María Coradeghini, Diana Quiroz, Kresta Pepe, Lorena Tapia, Paula Acunzo, Sol Arezo, Susi Maresca, and all other journalists who suffered injuries during the crackdown. We unequivocally denounce the employment of force to curtail freedom of expression and obstruct the critical work of journalists. We demand a full-scale investigation into the incident. We assert that those accountable for these actions must face repercussions, and justice must prevail. It is incumbent upon the Argentinian government to guarantee the safety of journalists at all echelons and to maintain essential democratic values for its citizenry.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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