Feb 22, 2020 - World

In photos: Protests in Chile rage on, 4 months later

Orion Rummler

In this image, a young man stands in front of a large fire while wearing goggles and a head scarf — A barricade burns during a protest in Santiago, Chile, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

Protestors clashed with riot police in Santiago, Chile on Friday after four months of sustained protests against the government initially sparked by grievances over metro fare pricing and the national cost of living.

The big picture: Chile has the greatest level of income inequality among all countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Wall Street Journal reports. Chileans have cited education and health care costs as especially cumbersome.

In this image, people climb a large sign as others hold protest banners — Demonstrators protest in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, people run through smoke — Demonstrators protest in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a truck sprays a water hose at a protestor who uses a plank of wood as a shield — Demonstrators protest in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a soldier points a rifle at the camera as he stands behind a concrete wall — A Chilean riot policeman draws a weapon at protestors in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, two men with their shirts off throw planks of wood on a large bonfire in the street — Demonstrators burn a barricade in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a group of medics wearing white helmets carry a woman on a stretcher through the street — Rescue volunteers carry a demonstrator on a stretcher in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a protestor throws a tear gas cannister away from other protestors as another holds a shield — A protestor throws a tear gas canister back at riot police in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a fire burns in the middle of an intersection as a crowd stands and watches, and one waves a black flag — Demonstrators light a fire in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images

In this image, a woman points a laser at police while wearing safety goggles — Protestors use lasers to distract or obstruct riot police and their equipment in Santiago, Feb. 21. Photo: Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images

Go deeper: Chile's grim economic outlook