Protest

30
Apr 2024
6:55 UTC

Americas Tactical: International Labor Day protests slated to take place in multiple cities regionwide on May 1; maintain heightened vigilance

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that several civil society organizations and labor unions will hold protests in commemoration of International Worker’s Day, also known as May Day, on May 1.
  • Some other issues that are being protested on May 1, as part of the Labor Day demonstrations include:
    • Anti-government protests in Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
    • Equality in education opportunities in Chile.
    • Increase in salaries and other demands by education workers in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
    • Normalistas demands for the resolution of Iguala mass kidnapping in 2014 in Mexico.
  • Details regarding the timings and locations for protests on May 1 are as follows:
    • In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a demonstration will take place in front of the Casa Rosada throughout the day. Additionally, a protest march will depart from the intersection of Avenida Independencia and Defensa, towards the Monument al Trabajo, at 10:00 (local time).
    • In Rosario, Argentina, a protest march is planned from the intersection of San Luis and Corrientes, near Plaza Sarmiento, towards Bolsa de Comercio de Rosario, at 10:00.
    • In Brasilia, Brazil, a demonstration is slated to take place at Eixo Norte 108 at 10:00. Separately, another demonstration will take place at  Eixo Sul 106 at 09:00.
    • In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a demonstration will take place at Parque de Madureira at 10:00.
    • In Sao Paulo, Brazil, activists are slated to gather in the west parking lot of the Neo Quimica Arena (also known as Arena Corinthians), Itaquerao, from 10:00. The event will be attended by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
    • In Santiago, Chile, a protest march is slated to commence from Los Heroes metro station towards the intersection of Avenida Alameda and Portugal, from 10:00.
    • In Bogota, Colombia, a demonstration called by President Gustavo Petro is slated to take place at Plaza de Bolivar at 12:00. Separately, a protest march is slated to depart from Planetario Distrital at 09:00, towards Plaza de Bolivar. Additionally, protestors will gather at the intersection of Avenida Caracas and 1 de Mayo at 08:30, at Parque Nacional at 09:00, and at Universidad Nacional de Colombia Calle 26 at 09:00.
    • In Cali, Colombia, a protest march will commence from Parque Obrero at 08:00, towards Monumento a la Resistencia.
    • In Medellin, Colombia, a protest march will depart from Parque La Milagrosa at 08:30, towards Parque Berrio.
    • In San Jose, Costa Rica, demonstrators will march from the Parque La Merced at 08:00, to Plaza de la Democracia.
    • In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a protest march will commence from Avenida Jimenez Moya, departing towards the Ministerio de Trabajo at 10:00.
    • In Quito, Ecuador, a protest march will commence from the Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (IESS) premises at 08:30, towards Plaza de Santo Domingo.
    • In San Salvador, El Salvador, a protest march is slated to depart from the intersection of Avenida Norte 39 and Calle San Antonio Abad, referred to as Torogoz, towards Plaza Mexico, at 07:40. Separately, activists will gather at Plaza Divino Salvador del Mundo at 08:00, and commence a march towards Plaza Gerardo Barrios.
    • In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a protest march will commence from Barrio La Granja, departing at 07:00 towards Parque Central.
    • In Mexico City, Mexico, demonstrations, including a sit-in, will take place at the Zocalo throughout the day.
    • In Lima, Peru, a demonstration is slated to be held at the Plaza de Armas from 10:00.
    • In Caracas, Venezuela, a demonstration is slated to take place at Plaza Andres Bello from 08:00. Separately, a demonstration will take place near the intersection of Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Segunda Avenida Campo Alegre from 09:00 onwards.

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on social media estimates, coupled with the organizers’ mobilizational capabilities in each country, the slated May Day protest actions are expected to draw turnouts in the mid hundreds-to-low thousands each, with higher participation anticipated in Buenos Aires and Bogota.
  2. Spontaneous smaller protests ranging in the low-to-mid hundreds are likely to take place in other urban centers.
  3. Although most demonstrations are likely to transpire largely peacefully, instances of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police personnel remain likely amid protests, especially in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Concurrently, clashes between anti-government protestors and pro-government counter protesters are liable to take place, particularly in Bogota.
  4. As such, a bolstered security presence can be expected in the vicinity of all protest locations. In the event of an escalation in unrest, forcible dispersal measures by the police including tear gas, water cannons, and mass arrests can be expected.
  5. Significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic are anticipated in the vicinity of the aforementioned protest locations during the slated timings, while disruptions to public transportation also remain likely.

Recommendations

Those operating or residing in the aforementioned cities in the Americas on May 1 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the protest locations during the slated timings.

AFFECTED AREA Americas
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

Current Situation

  • Reports indicate that several civil society organizations and labor unions will hold protests in commemoration of International Worker’s Day, also known as May Day, on May 1.
  • Some other issues that are being protested on May 1, as part of the Labor Day demonstrations include:
    • Anti-government protests in Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
    • Equality in education opportunities in Chile.
    • Increase in salaries and other demands by education workers in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
    • Normalistas demands for the resolution of Iguala mass kidnapping in 2014 in Mexico.
  • Details regarding the timings and locations for protests on May 1 are as follows:
    • In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a demonstration will take place in front of the Casa Rosada throughout the day. Additionally, a protest march will depart from the intersection of Avenida Independencia and Defensa, towards the Monument al Trabajo, at 10:00 (local time).
    • In Rosario, Argentina, a protest march is planned from the intersection of San Luis and Corrientes, near Plaza Sarmiento, towards Bolsa de Comercio de Rosario, at 10:00.
    • In Brasilia, Brazil, a demonstration is slated to take place at Eixo Norte 108 at 10:00. Separately, another demonstration will take place at  Eixo Sul 106 at 09:00.
    • In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a demonstration will take place at Parque de Madureira at 10:00.
    • In Sao Paulo, Brazil, activists are slated to gather in the west parking lot of the Neo Quimica Arena (also known as Arena Corinthians), Itaquerao, from 10:00. The event will be attended by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
    • In Santiago, Chile, a protest march is slated to commence from Los Heroes metro station towards the intersection of Avenida Alameda and Portugal, from 10:00.
    • In Bogota, Colombia, a demonstration called by President Gustavo Petro is slated to take place at Plaza de Bolivar at 12:00. Separately, a protest march is slated to depart from Planetario Distrital at 09:00, towards Plaza de Bolivar. Additionally, protestors will gather at the intersection of Avenida Caracas and 1 de Mayo at 08:30, at Parque Nacional at 09:00, and at Universidad Nacional de Colombia Calle 26 at 09:00.
    • In Cali, Colombia, a protest march will commence from Parque Obrero at 08:00, towards Monumento a la Resistencia.
    • In Medellin, Colombia, a protest march will depart from Parque La Milagrosa at 08:30, towards Parque Berrio.
    • In San Jose, Costa Rica, demonstrators will march from the Parque La Merced at 08:00, to Plaza de la Democracia.
    • In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, a protest march will commence from Avenida Jimenez Moya, departing towards the Ministerio de Trabajo at 10:00.
    • In Quito, Ecuador, a protest march will commence from the Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (IESS) premises at 08:30, towards Plaza de Santo Domingo.
    • In San Salvador, El Salvador, a protest march is slated to depart from the intersection of Avenida Norte 39 and Calle San Antonio Abad, referred to as Torogoz, towards Plaza Mexico, at 07:40. Separately, activists will gather at Plaza Divino Salvador del Mundo at 08:00, and commence a march towards Plaza Gerardo Barrios.
    • In Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a protest march will commence from Barrio La Granja, departing at 07:00 towards Parque Central.
    • In Mexico City, Mexico, demonstrations, including a sit-in, will take place at the Zocalo throughout the day.
    • In Lima, Peru, a demonstration is slated to be held at the Plaza de Armas from 10:00.
    • In Caracas, Venezuela, a demonstration is slated to take place at Plaza Andres Bello from 08:00. Separately, a demonstration will take place near the intersection of Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Segunda Avenida Campo Alegre from 09:00 onwards.

Assessments & Forecast

  1. Based on social media estimates, coupled with the organizers’ mobilizational capabilities in each country, the slated May Day protest actions are expected to draw turnouts in the mid hundreds-to-low thousands each, with higher participation anticipated in Buenos Aires and Bogota.
  2. Spontaneous smaller protests ranging in the low-to-mid hundreds are likely to take place in other urban centers.
  3. Although most demonstrations are likely to transpire largely peacefully, instances of unrest in the form of clashes between protesters and police personnel remain likely amid protests, especially in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Concurrently, clashes between anti-government protestors and pro-government counter protesters are liable to take place, particularly in Bogota.
  4. As such, a bolstered security presence can be expected in the vicinity of all protest locations. In the event of an escalation in unrest, forcible dispersal measures by the police including tear gas, water cannons, and mass arrests can be expected.
  5. Significant disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic are anticipated in the vicinity of the aforementioned protest locations during the slated timings, while disruptions to public transportation also remain likely.

Recommendations

Those operating or residing in the aforementioned cities in the Americas on May 1 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the protest locations during the slated timings.

AFFECTED AREA Americas
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE Credible

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