Known as the epicenter of anti-austerity rebellion during Bolivia’s Gas War, El Alto remains a powerful example of the potential for local movements to leverage their cities to shape national politics.
This week, a jury found Bolivia’s former president, Gonzalo “Goni” Sánchez de Lozada and his Minister of Defense guilty of extrajudicial killings in 2003 in a landmark case. For their victims, it’s a welcome victory.
Last month, Bolivians marked the tenth anniversary of "Black October," a watershed moment in a popular uprising that culminated with the election of Evo Morales. Today, both Morales and popular sectors view the legacy of Black October through the lens of their own political agendas.
