Three women surrounded by masked rioters were stabbed at a pro-choice abortion rally in Chile

A peaceful pro-choice abortion protest in Chile ended in chaos Wednesday night when three women were stabbed.

Kelly Barrera, 31, traveled to Santiago with her sister to accompany their mother to a medical appointment and later decided to attend the rally. But their group was accosted by men wearing hoodies and masks. 

‘Guys approached shoving us and one of them pushes me and I defend myself and I reacted and pushed him,’ Barrera told Canal 13. ‘He then got near me, and another guy came running and I was stabbed in the stomach.’

Kelly Barrera, 31, (pictured) was one of three women stabbed during  pro-choice abortion rally in Chile on Wednesday night

Video from Canal 13 in Chile showed vidio which captures the moment one of the victims (inset) was stabbed

Video from Canal 13 in Chile showed vidio which captures the moment one of the victims (inset) was stabbed

Pro-choice abortion supporters clashed with rioters at a rally on Wednesday night in Chile

Pro-choice abortion supporters clashed with rioters at a rally on Wednesday night in Chile

Chile, just like its Latin American neighboring countries, for decades has placed strict laws and regulations on women wanting the right to choose between giving birth and ending their pregnancies.

The only countries in the region that still prohibit abortions are the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname.

It wasn’t until November 2017 that the Chilean government passed a bill that paved the way for abortions to be carried out only to save a mother’s life and in the case of rape or fetal malformation.

A terrified Barrera, who was among around 40,000 people protesting, kept the attack to herself initally because she didn’t want to worry her mother. But the pain worsened and she was rushed to hospital. 

Women right's supporters marched in solidarity with those supporting the right to have an abortion in Chile

Women right’s supporters marched in solidarity with those supporting the right to have an abortion in Chile

Women marched alongside each other in support of pro-choice abortion rights in Chile

Women marched alongside each other in support of pro-choice abortion rights in Chile

Demonstrators seeking more support for pro-choice abortion rights rallied in Chile

Demonstrators seeking more support for pro-choice abortion rights rallied in Chile

‘We found ourselves in the hospital, and they (the other two women) were stabbed in the legs and buttocks,’ said Barrera, the only victim who publicly shared her experience.

‘The person, to me, was a delinquent,’ she added. ‘I sincerely believe that it couldn’t have been a person that opposed the protest.

‘I think it was the outlaws with masks. It had to be a young guy. I couldn’t identify what kind of weapon it was.’

A video aired on Canal 13 appears to show one of the thugs stabbing a woman.

A supporter (right) carries a sign that in part says, 'Free abortion right'

A supporter (right) carries a sign that in part says, ‘Free abortion right’

Pro-choice abortion demonstrators came out in full force Wednesday night in Chile

Pro-choice abortion demonstrators came out in full force Wednesday night in Chile

A woman at the pro-choice abortion hold a bandanna. It in part says, 'The right to an abortion that is secure and free'

A woman at the pro-choice abortion hold a bandanna. It in part says, ‘The right to an abortion that is secure and free’

 



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