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El Ciudadano

Original article: Derecha busca cambiar el nombre de la calle Reinalda Pereira por el de carabinero golpista

Local residents and human rights groups are mobilizing to oppose a municipal proposal that seeks to revoke the tribute.

Through community demonstrations, the dissemination of statements, and the recent postponement of a scheduled municipal vote on May 29, organizations in Macul have united to prevent the alteration of the name of Avenida Tecnóloga Médica Reinalda Pereira Plaza. The alarm was raised after councilors from right-wing parties formally proposed to replace this name with that of Carabineros officer Fabriciano González Urzúa, triggering immediate backlash.

This initiative to change the street name, which is located across from Juan Pinto Durán Square, is spearheaded by Councilor Sergio Puyol, supported by the newly elected mayor of the area, Eduardo Espinoza. In light of this situation, the Communist Party of Macul issued a public statement condemning the measure, asserting that «Reinalda Pereira is not just a name; she was a social leader and a victim of forced disappearance,» emphasizing that the original tribute established in 2022 was a democratic decision aimed at preserving historical memory.

In a similar vein, the Human Rights and Memorial Sites Group of Macul has joined community efforts demanding that the current street identity be preserved. Sector organizations explained in a statement that «the streets of our country must reflect the memory of people, especially women,» recalling that the professional from Hospital Sótero del Río was 29 years old and six months pregnant when DINA abducted her and made her disappear in 1976.

Residents reported that since the establishment of the municipal authorities, groups opposing the memorial have systematically damaged the signs bearing the name Reinalda Pereira. They also accuse the local administration of trying to manipulate community meetings in their favor. Neighbors involved in the protests claim that the mayor indicated he would address the issue with COSOC (Civil Society Council), where they allege votes had been manipulated to ensure the majority are his political allies.

While right-wing authorities defend their position by stating that the current name is too lengthy and prefer to commemorate the carabinero who died on September 11, 1973, the residents clarified that the letters justifying the proposal do not represent the local population. For now, following the suspension of the citizen consultation that the municipality intended to hold, the organized community of Macul has vowed to remain vigilant to protect public space and prevent any regression.

El Ciudadano.

La entrada Local Residents Rally Against Proposal to Rename Street from Reinalda Pereira to Controversial Carabinero se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.