People gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires and in cities across the country to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, during which he slammed ‘wokeism,’ feminism and other progressive ideals.
Protesters were clad in rainbow-colored flags and bore banners that read “rights are not negotiable.” Dubbed the “Federal March of Anti-Fascist and Anti-Racist Pride,” the LGBTQ+ community called the protest after the speech on Jan. 23 to combat “the economic violence, political persecution and sexual repression of Javier Milei’s government.”
Rights’ groups, unions and political parties also joined the protest.
In Switzerland, Milei sharply criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change, adding that “in its most extreme versions gender ideology constitutes plain and simple child abuse.”
Protester Germán Paladino, an industrial engineer, said Milei’s government was not taking care of public issues such as healthcare and education and was instead lashing out at people’s private life.
“I don’t know if this march can change anything, but if it could put a break on Javier Milei’s remarks which were rather aggressive,” Paladino said.
“I am here to defend our rights, those which we have won and those that are currently under attack,” said Milagros, a 33-year-old visual artist.
In recent decades, Argentina has enshrined progressive laws consecrating sexual diversity and equal marriage rights, among others.
A woman poses for a photo in front of a poster depicting Argentine President Javier Milei and U.S. President Donald Trump sharing a kiss, during a demonstration to protest Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Demonstrators break into a dance in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People holding rainbow-colored fans gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A man holds a poster depicting President of Argentina Javier Milei behind bars during a demonstration to protest Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A private security guard watches as people gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, for a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A troupe performs in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People cheer on the singer Lali Esposito in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People holding rainbow-colored flags gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
People gather in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, to protest President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
A couple embrace in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
"Make Argentina Gay Again" caps are displayed for sale in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, during a protest against President Javier Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, during which he criticized “sick wokeism,” social welfare, feminism, identity politics and the fight against climate change. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Argentina's President Javier Milei reacts after receiving this year's Roepke Prize for Civil Society of the Liberal Institute at the Congress centre in Kloten, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to our policies
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
