All three have been approved by the city’s regional governor, who is responsible for authorizing public gatherings, although she and everyone else are intent on keeping the marches separated.
Organizers of all three events are predicting large turnouts.
At midday the zombies, chiefly in black and all (we presume) undead, will gather at the capital’s central square, Plaza de Armas, to begin their fourth annual march.
Zombie parades are an international phenomenon, organized by an underground (wouldn’t you know?) movement of horror fanatics.
Last year’s march saw a crowd of thousands, and some spectacularly gruesome costumes.
The zombie horde will pass through the streets of Ahumada, Arturo Prat, Tarapacá and Bulnes before finishing their outing in Almagro Park at 5 pm.
Meanwhile, Catholics will gather at the same time as zombies in Plaza Italia — another downtown plaza that hosts many public gatherings — for a Joy of Being Catholic parade.
Organizers predict a turnout of 20,000 of the faithful.
That parade will follow the capital’s main street, la Alameda, and end with songs and speeches in Plaza San Francisco.
(For those seeking confrontation, the best chance of the unholy and the devout bumping together will be at the intersection of Alameda and Ahumada.)
The third parade of the day is part of a global day of protests called “United for Global Change,” which has been convened by the organizers of Spain’s “indignant” movement.
Organizers have said that similar protests will take place in 662 cities in 79 countries across the world, at least ten of which cities are in Chile.
The indignatos protest the prevailing economic system but the movement has become a platform for other, local causes. In Chile those are expected to include: protests against the proposed Hidroaysén dams and power lines, a demonstration in support of Chile’s student movement, a condemnation of abuses by Chile’s retail businesses and a championing of reform of the Chilean Constitution and electoral system.
This march has not been organized by the university or high school leaders who have been agitating for five months for educational reforms and who recently have not been permitted to march. Nonetheless, the leaders have come out in support of the event and many student protesters are expected to attend.
The indignants will start marching at 4 pm from—again—the intersection of Alameda and Ahumada. They will go down Alameda, turn into Ave. España, then Blanco Tupper and end at O’Higgins Park at 6:30.
The march will be accompanied by local bands, including a popular cumbia group, Banda Conmoción.
By Joe Hinchliffe (editor@santiagotimes.cl)
Copyright 2011 – The Santiago TimesChile’s ‘Zombies,’ Catholics & ‘Indignants’ strut their stuff.