‘We’ll march as many times as necessary’: Peru’s youth protesters defy state of emergency

Rapper shot dead by police becomes symbol of resistance in Peru, amid wave of gen Z rallies sweeping the world

A youth group in Peru calling itself the Generation Z Collective says it will march again on Saturday in defiance of a state of emergency declared by the government this week in the capital, Lima, and neighbouring port of Callao.

Group leaders said they would be honouring Eduardo Ruiz, a rapper known as Truko, who was shot dead by a plainclothed police officer last week during a huge anti-government march in Lima.

They also demanded the resignation of the new interim president, José Jerí, and the shutting down of Peru’s unpopular congress, which they blame for a series of laws that they claim are contributing to soaring crime.

“We have the constitutional right to protest,” Jorge Calmet, one of the Generation Z leaders, told journalists on Thursday. “That right cannot be taken away from us by a police commander, a congressman – and certainly not by someone who pretends to be president. We will march as many times as necessary.”

Generation Z protests have swept the world, toppling governments in Madagascar and Nepal this month, and shaking the status quo in Morocco. While the demonstrations have various motives, they have been driven broadly by widespread dissatisfaction among young people who are angry about political corruption, lack of opportunities, crime, slow economic growth and, in the case of Nepal, a draconian ban on the internet.

The 30-day state of emergency, which began on Wednesday, restricts freedom of movement and assembly, and the armed forces can patrol the streets along with the police in Lima and Callao.

See also:

• Peru declares 30-day state of emergency in Lima to tackle rising crime (Reuters)
• Peru’s president refuses to resign after Gen Z protests leave at least 1 dead, 100 injured (Associated Press)