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SANTIAGO, Chile — For the past few weeks, Chile has been in turmoil with citizen protests.
Students started the protests when the current Chilean administration raised ticket prices for the metro. But the movement spread to the general population for several socio-economic reasons, including low wages and the unpopular privatization of public services.
It’s an intense time for the country, which resulted in the government imposing a curfew (now lifted) in major cities in late October.
But taking to the streets isn’t the only way to protest. It’s at times like these that art often comes to the forefront to comfort and bolster people while still giving voice to important issues.
A video of opera soprano Ayleen Jovita Romero has garnered the attention of the world is just such an example. This video is taken from an apartment window in Santiago as Romero sings “El Derecho de Vivir en Paz,” or “The Right to Live in Peace.”
As she finishes her song, people from every surrounding apartment start to cheer, giving Romero a long, supportive ovation of solidarity.
The song was composed by Victor Jara, a teacher, poet, and musician, who was killed in Chile in 1973 for protesting the Pinochet regime. Since then, this song has been a common rallying cry for Chileans.
According to Romero's Instagram, her musical activism was one of many in order to continue protests during the curfew. In the post she also encourages people to peacefully protest and “do good.”
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