Dateline: Occupy Buenos Aires 11-11-11

 

Buenos Aires expats and locals came out today in force along with the security forces of the Argentine capital and their US embassy-hired counterparts.

Mounted police forces crossed Avenida Sarmiento at one-half hour before the designated 11am start of the local demonstration of support for the eight-week Occupy Wall Street movement that started in New York’s Zuccotti Park and has spread to cities around the world ...but kept a respectable distance from the peaceful protesters.

Both police and protesters were well-behaved and all seemed to be enjoying the beautiful spring day.

The "occupiers", who numbered about 70 by this reporter's estimation, had feared that their numbers would be diminished due to a late bulletin from the United States Embassy to Argentina issued by e-mail just last night.

The embassy's statement last night, as reported by Bloomberg/Businessweek warned,

"Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence,” the statement said. “U.S. citizens should monitor the media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times."

As it happened, both US expat and Argentine protesters met in peaceful camaraderie brandishing signs and often wearing face-coverings to conceal their identities from the ever-watchful embassy personnel and local police forces.

Photography was discouraged during the gathering.  One protester, identified only as "Wachi", consented to be photographed for this story only with a red bandana covering most of his face.  He explained in US accented English that the movement was a "moral issue" and went on to say that "until the worldwide unfairness that has become so commonplace as to be invisible to most individuals becomes obvious enough for the everyday person to recognize, there will be no progress.  That´s why we're all here today."

A large percentage of the protesters gathered mistakenly in the park in front of the more well-known US consular services entrance on Avenida Colombia which had been taped-off with yellow police tape.  Those protesters voluntarily dispersed after what was described by one as an "eyeball to eyeball" standoff.

Somewhat less than two hours later, the crowd in the park across 8 lanes of traffic from the more ceremonial embassy residence drifted away without incident.