Blinded by rubber bullets at a peaceful protest

During a peaceful demonstration, twenty-nine-year-old ceramicist Joel Paredes was shot with rubber bullets, hit in his right eye, and permanently blinded.

The locals of Humahuaca, a small town in Jujuy, a northern Argentine province, met at the town square, including Joel, to peacefully protest changes to their constitution.The changes placed restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly and included measures that may cause damage to the environment. The changes were approved without consultation of the Indigenous Peoples or the wider population.

In the early hours of July 1, 2023, the police arrived at the square and recklessly fired rubber bullets into the crowd. The bullet that hit Joel’s right eye required surgery, but doctors could not save his sight.

Joel is now left blinded in his right eye and has debilitating nerve pain that impacts his daily life. No one has been held accountable for what happened to Joel and the other protesters.

Demand justice for Joel Pareades.