Argentinian Protestors
Women stop work and other activities for an hour to join a 'women's strike' organized after the brutal killing of a 16-year-old girl, in Buenos Aires, on October 19, 2016. Getty Images

The abduction, gang-rape and murder of Argentinian schoolgirl Lucia Perez has stunned the nation. In one of the most populated marches to date, Argentinians came together to protest violence against women.

According to FOX News Latino, tens of thousands of Argentinians marched in the capital of Buenos Aires this past Wednesday to condemn violence against women. This serves as the latest public outcry following the brutal killing of 16-year-old Lucia Perez who was drugged, raped and impaled.

We recently reported that Perez was murdered in the coastal city of Mar del Plata earlier this month.

The site reports that Perez was forced to consume cocaine, and was later raped and impaled by two men, Matias Gabriel Farias, 23, and Juan Pablo Offidani, 41.

The prosecutor investigating the crime called the attack "an act of inhuman sexual aggression."

The demonstration, which is being echoed across Argentina and in other Latin American countries, was organized on social media by women's groups under the slogans NiUnaMenos, meaning "Not one less" and "Black Wednesday."

"I heard about this girl who was raped to death. It's so unfair and it should never happen again," said Malena Resino, a 14-year-old student who joined the march with her classmates after school. "I'm very proud that so many people joined because together we can achieve something."

The demonstrators, including schoolchildren and women with children in strollers, braved the heavy rain to gather at the iconic Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires. Chanting slogans and carrying banners and flags, they marched to the pink presidential palace at the Plaza de Mayo square.

"I'm here to demand justice for my grandchildren," said Helga Scumlitz, 74, who was moved to join the march after she heard about the gruesome killing of Lucia Perez in the news. "What's happening is horrible. And it's happening every day."

There were 275 gender-based killings of Argentine women in the past year, according to Casa del Encuentro, a women's rights group and shelter. In 40 of those cases, women had reported attacks by men, and some even had restraining orders.

Demonstrators dressed in black to mourn Perez and other victims of sexual assault also staged a brief work stoppage as a sign of protest.

"It's important that not only women but also men join this movement. Our husbands are here wearing black and are supporting the protest," said Monica Pavicich, 59, who demonstrated with her work colleagues in downtown Buenos Aires.

In the United States alone, every two and a half minutes someone is sexually assaulted. Globally, that rate decreases drastically.

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.