Original article: “No seremos espectadores”: estudiantes vuelven a las calles este 3 de septiembre y apuntan contra las políticas de Kast

Students Take to the Streets on September 3rd to Protest Kast’s Policies

This Thursday, September 3rd, secondary and university students will once again hit the streets to protest against the policies enacted by José Antonio Kast since he took office in March.

«We will not be spectators of a government that has only promoted projects for big businesses and seeks to prevent the public from rising against the misery they are generating,” stated the Coordinating Assembly of Secondary Students (ACES) in a message shared on social media.

The protest will begin at 10:30 AM on Thursday near the Baquedano Metro station, where students and citizens will raise their voices against the massive tax reform pushed by the far-right president, aimed primarily at favoring large corporations and high-income individuals.

 Enacted in Congress is a controversial project that includes various measures such as reducing the first category tax rate from 27% to 23%, eliminating the capital gains tax, implementing a tax credit for formal employment, and establishing a 25-year tax invariability for investments exceeding $50 million.

Moreover, student organizations will mobilize against the so-called Protected Schools Law, which includes provisions such as losing access to free university education for five years for students convicted of serious crimes, conducting backpack checks, and prohibiting hoods and items that hinder students’ facial identification.

Secondary and university students will also express their opposition to Kast’s proposal, which advocates for a constitutional reform to create a new state of constitutional exception, called public security emergency, allowing declaration of a zone under this regime with powers comparable to those in a war scenario, but without congressional oversight for 240 days, equating to eight months.

During this period, the president would possess the authority to implement extraordinary measures and restrict rights to assemble, personal freedom —including allowing arrests without judicial warrants—, movement and association; intervene various communications —potentially including internet communication— and requisition property, affecting property rights. All of this without the need for a judicial order and depending solely on the decision of the president and the overseeing Carabinero authority.

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A post shared by ACES Chile (@aceschile)

Alongside, the protest’s slogans will focus on denouncing the effects of the 3% across-the-board cuts implemented by Kast’s administration on the budgets of all ministries, including education, as part of a broader plan to reduce public spending by nearly $6 billion, which has negatively impacted citizens’ social rights.

«While the conditions of our educational communities continue to be deferred, we will not be spectators as they move against our future,» stated ACES

“In a government serving the rich, we students will stand up to defend the future of Chile,” they emphasized.

This demonstration will coincide with another protest scheduled for the same day against the self-proclaimed “Madrid Forum” in Santiago, where leaders, former presidents, and representatives from the international far-right will gather.