A student march called by ACES, Confech and other groups rejected the measures of José Antonio Kast's government on Thursday, such as limits on free education and fuel price hikes. The demonstration in Santiago led to clashes with Carabineros, who used water cannons and tear gas.
On March 26, 2026, at 12:00, the first student march against José Antonio Kast's government started in Santiago, organized by the Asamblea Coordinadora de Estudiantes Secundarios (ACES), Confederación de Estudiantes de Chile (Confech), Red de Solidaridad Estudiantil, and FEUSACH. Protesters gathered at the Congress headquarters and moved along the Alameda to Plaza Baquedano, denouncing that government measures “directly affect education and the pockets of millions of Chileans, such as the limitation of gratuidad or the fuel price hike,” as stated by the organizers according to La Tercera. Around 13:00, incidents began as hooded groups threw blunt objects at Carabineros, who responded with water cannons, tear gas, and dispersal to restore public order. Santiago Metro closed accesses to Line 1 stations preventively and kept Baquedano closed for entry and exit until 15:54, when most of the network reopened. Traffic was suspended in several points, and a group of protesters damaged the protection around the Baquedano statue. La Tercera noted in related summaries that the march drew about 3,500 students and ended with 14 arrests.
