María Magdalena Arréllaga

Independent Photojournalist and Visual Storyteller

Paraguay Se Levanta: Mass Protests in Paraguay Amid a Public Health and Political Crisis

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Location: Rio de Janeiro

Nationality: Paraguayan American

Biography: Maria is an independent documentary photographer, photojournalist and visual storyteller working on stories and projects related to social, political and environmental issues in Brazil and Latin America. She studied international relations and... MORE

Thousands of people gather in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

1 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of people gather in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, in protest of the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic and to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Thousands of people gather in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

2 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of people gather in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, in protest of the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic and to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Thousands of people gather in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

3 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of people gather in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, in protest of the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic and to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Thousands of people gather in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

4 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of people gather in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, in protest of the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic and to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Police disperse protests in dow...e;llaga for The New York Times.

5 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Police disperse protests in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, where thousands of people gathered to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency due to the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic, while hospitals continue to face outages of critical medications and coronavirus cases grow around the country. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Police shoot at protesters in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

6 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Police shoot at protesters in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, where thousands of people gathered to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency due to the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic. The protests were met with significant police repression resulting in injuries to protesters, one of which was fatal. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Thousands of people gather in d...e;llaga for The New York Times.

7 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of people gather in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, in protest of the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic and to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Thousands of protesters gathere...e;llaga for The New York Times.

8 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Asunción, Paraguay on March 5, 2021, to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency due to the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic, as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

Families arrive to a protest in...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

9 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Families arrive to a protest in front of the presidential residence Mburuvicha Róga, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Demonstrators gather during a p...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

10 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Demonstrators gather during a protest in front of the presidential residence Mburuvicha Róga, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Demonstrators gather during a p...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

11 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Demonstrators gather during a protest in front of the presidential residence Mburuvicha Róga, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

A demonstrator cares for rubber...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

12 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

A demonstrator cares for rubber bullet wounds on a friends back caused by police at a protest days earlier, during a demonstration in front of the presidential residence Mburuvicha Róga, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Demonstrators clash with police...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

13 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Demonstrators clash with police in front of the presidential residence Mburuchiva Róga in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Demonstrators gather during a p...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

14 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Demonstrators gather during a protest in front of the presidential residence Mburuvicha Róga, in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Young demonstrators arrive to p...a Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

15 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Young demonstrators arrive to protest in front of the presidential residence Mburuchiva Róga in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez said Saturday he will name new cabinet ministers amid unrest over his government's handling of the pandemic that has left at least one person dead. Photographer: Maria Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Jeannete Rodriguez, 21, and her...e;llaga for The New York Times.

16 of 16 © 2023 María Magdalena Arréllaga

Jeannete Rodriguez, 21, and her friend protest in front of the National Police Station in downtown Asunción, Paraguay, on March 5, 2021. Thousands of young protesters gathered to demand the end of Mario Abdo Benitez's presidency due to the government's lack of management and transparency during the pandemic as public hospitals continue to face outages of critical resources and medications. The health minister, Julio Mazzoleni, resigned earlier the same day as public discontent and pressure intensified. Maria Magdalena Arréllaga for The New York Times.

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Thumbnail of Thousands of people gather in do_te;llaga for The New York Times.

Thumbnail of Thousands of people gather in do_te;llaga for The New York Times.

Thumbnail of Thousands of people gather in do_te;llaga for The New York Times.

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Thumbnail of Police shoot at protesters in do_te;llaga for The New York Times.

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Thumbnail of Families arrive to a protest in _ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Thumbnail of Demonstrators gather during a pr_ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Thumbnail of Demonstrators gather during a pr_ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Thumbnail of A demonstrator cares for rubber _ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Thumbnail of Demonstrators clash with police _ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

Thumbnail of Demonstrators gather during a pr_ia Magdalena Arrellaga/Bloomberg

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Thumbnail of Jeannete Rodriguez, 21, and her _te;llaga for The New York Times.

Public Story

Paraguay Se Levanta: Mass Protests in Paraguay Amid a Public Health and Political Crisis

Copyright María Magdalena Arréllaga 2023

Updated Mar 2021

Location Asunción, Paraguay

Topics Civil Rights, Confrontation, Corruption, Documentary, Human Rights, Latin America, Media, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Protests, Street, Youth

In early March, health workers began protesting the dismal state of Paraguay's public health system and hospitals which were at capacity and facing outages of critical supplies and medications to treat covid patients. Facing public pressure, health minister Julio Mazzoleni resigned on March 5, the same day that thousands of Paraguayans took to the streets to protest the government's lack of management and transparency through the pandemic while the country's public health system bordered collapse, demanding the ouster of the president, Mario Abdo Benítez. Mass protests, led largely by young Paraguayans tired of the country's historic corruption, have spread throughout the country and been met by significant police repression, resulting in dozens of demonstrators injured, detained and one death. Amid a deepening public health and political crisis, coronavirus cases continue to rise in the country while vaccination of the wider population has yet to begin.

I covered the protests for The New York Times and for Bloomberg.

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