Protests Against State Violence Escalate in Argentina Amidst New Policing Protocols

Increased Repression Under New Protocols

Protests against state violence have seen a notable escalation across Argentina, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations. Reports indicate a growing pattern of violence against demonstrators since President Javier Milei assumed office in December 2023. This surge in repression is linked to new policing protocols introduced by his administration, which permit security forces, including military police, to utilize methods such as tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to prevent traffic blockages during demonstrations.

Critics argue that these measures, while officially termed 'nonlethal methods,' are being applied disproportionately and irrationally, leading to abuses including arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, and intimidation, even when protesters are outnumbered by security forces.

Severe Injuries and Human Rights Concerns

The human cost of these clashes has been significant. On March 12, 2025, during a protest in front of Argentina's Congress building in Buenos Aires, demonstrator Jonathan Navarro lost vision in one eye after being struck by a rubber bullet. Navarro, who was protesting cuts to government benefits and seeking pension increases, recounted the severity of the incident, stating, 'They could have killed me.'

In the same protest, photojournalist Pablo Grillo suffered a severe brain injury after being hit on the head by a tear gas canister, leading to weeks in intensive care. Another incident on February 1, 2024, saw Matías Aufieri blinded in his left eye by a rubber bullet during a demonstration against austerity measures.

Human rights groups, including the Provincial Commission for Memory, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS), have documented an 'exponential rise' in police violence. The Provincial Commission for Memory reported that in the first half of 2025, 1,251 people were injured and 130 were arbitrarily arrested in protests, exceeding the total figures for all of 2024. Their findings also indicate that half of all protests in 2025 were met with disproportionate force, compared to three out of ten in the previous year.

Government Stance and Broader Context

The Argentine government maintains that the new policing protocols are essential to ensure citizens' right to circulation. However, the Provincial Commission for Memory has accused the police of 'used less-lethal weapons against protesters irrationally and disproportionately, disregarding protocols,' asserting that such actions transform these weapons into 'lethal weapons.'

The protests are largely a response to President Milei's sweeping economic reforms, including austerity measures and proposed constitutional changes, which have sparked widespread discontent among various sectors of society, including pensioners, teachers' unions, and Indigenous communities.