Public university protests escalate in challenge to Argentina’s President Milei WSOC TV [Video]

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — (AP) — In a burst of adrenaline, the Argentine students charged into oncoming traffic.

Trucks screeched to a halt. Motorbikes swerved. Some drivers flipped their middle fingers, yelling insults. Others pumped their fists in solidarity, howling, “Public and free education!” as the University of Buenos Aires protesters took over lane after highway lane, their fear turning to gasping, giddy exhilaration as they chanted against libertarian President Javier Milei’s university budget cuts.

“We’re here for our teachers, to demand that they get decent salaries,” said architecture student Ivan Rocha, struggling to be heard over the singing and honking.

Last week’s road blockades were the latest in a series of protests this month expected to intensify across Argentina in response to Milei’s veto of a law increasing funding for public universities. Many professors began a 48-hour strike Monday.

After convincing centrist lawmakers to abandon their support for the teacher salary boost meant to compensate for sky-high inflation, Milei’s …