Just a couple of days ago, on March 12, 2025, Buenos Aires turned into a battleground. Thousands of retirees, fed up with President Javier Milei's austerity measures slashing their pensions, took to the streets demanding better treatment. But things escalated quickly when football fans, especially from clubs like Boca Juniors and River Plate, joined the fray in a rare show of unity.

The scene got chaotic as riot police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. Protesters hurled stones and firecrackers, leading to intense clashes. Disturbingly, footage showed elderly demonstrators being beaten, and a freelance photographer, Pablo Grillo, was critically injured by a tear gas canister, leaving him in a coma.

The government's heavy-handed tactics have drawn sharp criticism. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich accused the protesters of attempting to destabilize the government, labeling them as organized and violent. In contrast, opposition figures condemned the excessive force, highlighting the retirees' dire situation, with many receiving meager pensions around $340 a month, barely enough to get by.

This unrest reflects a broader discontent with Milei's economic policies, which many Argentinians feel are deepening inequality and eroding their quality of life.

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