Millions march against Javier Milei in Argentina

Millions from Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina joined marches opposing President Javier Milei following his controversial statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Buenos Aires protest, spearheaded by LGBTQ+, women’s, and human rights organisations, became one of the largest demonstrations against Milei since his presidency began in December 2023. This mobilisation directly responded to Milei’s offensive remarks concerning feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and other progressive movements.

In his January 23 speech at the World Economic Forum, Milei described “wokism” and “gender ideology” as dangerous, likening them to pedophilia. These comments provoked widespread anger across Argentina, with protesters demanding the protection of human rights and equality.

María Rachid, president of the Argentine LGBT+ Federation, told the ‘Washington Blade’ on Sunday, “the march was massive, a strong message to President Milei putting a limit to hatred, discrimination and violence.”

Rachid also stated, “Argentine society built the values of respect for diversity, equality, and true freedom and yesterday it came out to defend them with massive demonstrations throughout the country and in many cities around the world. We are proud of what we were able to build because although they want to destroy it, it is already part of the heart of Argentine society.”

The march in Buenos Aires started at the National Congress and concluded at the Casa Rosada, the presidential office. Thousands of protestors, many carrying rainbow flags and signs declaring “rights are not negotiable,” voiced their strong opposition to Milei’s policies.

Gay Congressman Esteban Paulón commented to the Blade, “the call for the march was impressive.”

He added, “I think it exceeded any forecast, not only because of the massiveness in the City of Buenos Aires, where it is estimated more than a million people, but also because of the massiveness in the 150 cities in which it was held throughout the country. The truth is that it was a very, very big march in Rosario, in Córdoba, in Santa Fe, in Mar del Plata, in Bariloche, in the north, in Salta.”

“There was no expectation that it would be so, so massive, beyond the one in Buenos Aires, which had had an important call, an important visibility, which had added several actors,” Paulón noted.

Sofía Díaz, a trans woman formerly employed as a civil servant until Milei’s administration terminated her, participated in the march in Corrientes, a city in Chaco province.

“After President Milei’s speeches in Davos, the next day we started texting each other on WhatsApp,” she said, referring to national public employees. “We were really afraid of what he had said.”

Activists globally showed solidarity with their Argentine peers.

Marches occurred in cities worldwide, including Santiago, Chile; Montevideo, Uruguay; Rio de Janeiro; São Paulo; Mexico City; London; Madrid; Amsterdam; Berlin; Geneva; Paris; New York; Lisbon, Portugal; and the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Granada.

The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, a Chilean LGBTQ rights organisation, organised a march to the Argentine Embassy on February 1. Activists presented a letter expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community and condemning Milei’s policies against it.