, performing songs in their hometown of Santiago is an act of protest. All of the band's members were left either totally or partially blinded by projectiles fired by police during the mass anti-government protests which swept through Chile in late 2019 and early 2020. Keyboard player Vicente Pascal was struck by a rubber-coated bullet in his left eye. "I lost my entire eyeball," he recalls. The band's drummer, Gustavo Gatica, lost his sight completely after both of his eyes were pierced by rubber bullets during a protest in November 2019. Photos of his blood-soaked face went viral on social media and his case became emblematic of the police repression of the protests. Image caption, Gustavo Gatica was blinded at a protest against rising inequality on 8 November 2019 In total, more than 30 civilians were killed in violent clashes with police, and more than 400 were left with permanent eye damage from projectile weapons fired by the police. The conservative president at the time, Sebastián Piñera, acknowledged that excessive force had been used to quell the protests and promised reforms. This vow was echoed by his left-wing successor in office, Gabriel Boric, who promised to help victims of state violence. The eight musicians who make up Hacia La Victoria met through organisations supporting the victims. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Support groups were created for the hundreds of people who suffered eye injuries They not only share a passion for music but also a desire to make songs that champion human rights. For Pascal, the very act of making music is something "revolutionary". "They shot [at us] to divide us, so to come together and create [music] is very valuable to me." The band uses music to denounce ongoing police){kind=link}
For Chilean band Hacia La Victoria (Onwards to Victory), performing songs in their hometown of Santiago is an act of protest.
All of the band’s members were left either totally or partially blinded by projectiles fired by police during the mass anti-government protests which swept through Chile in late 2019 and early 2020.
Keyboard player Vicente Pascal was struck by a rubber-coated bullet in his left eye. “I lost my entire eyeball,” he recalls.
The band’s drummer, Gustavo Gatica, lost his sight completely after both of his eyes were pierced by rubber bullets during a protest in November 2019.
Photos of his blood-soaked face went viral on social media and his case became emblematic of the police repression of the protests.