Kathryn Kelton, Conflict, Chile (DOCO 2023)

In 2020 protests and conflict against the government in Santiago over economic conditions left the city and country in mourning. The city of Santiago has been scarred by weekly riots resulting in burnt out buildings, damaged infrastructure, injury and death. These images were captured over 2 days, the first evening we were locked in our hotel as tyres were ignited at a rally a block away. Police responded by air and road, water canons and rubber bullets were fired into protesters while police looked on from the roof of a nearby building and drones circled the skies. Churches, theatres and hotels are amoung the buildings that have been damaged during protests. We were told every police car in the city bear the scars of rebellion. Memorials have been erected in central locations to commemorate the those who have lost their lives in the protests, many receiving fatal head injuries from rubber bullets.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.