Tear Gas at Bolivian Protest Reaches School, Children Exposed

In the Bolivian city of Betanzos, located in the Potosí region, a recent protest took an unexpected turn when tear gas canisters reached a nearby school. Students, mostly elementary-aged children, were exposed to the gas, resulting in widespread distress. One teacher described the scene as 'chaotic and heartbreaking,' noting the children's immediate reactions of coughing, crying, and fear. 'It was terrifying,' she said, 'to see these young children so overwhelmed and scared.' The video footage from Red Uno vividly depicts the children's distress, highlighting the unintended consequences of using tear gas in areas with schools or other civilian infrastructure. The incident has sparked a debate about the appropriate use of force during protests and the need to protect civilians, especially children, from harm. While authorities maintain that the tear gas was necessary to control the situation, the video serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of such actions. Moving forward, a thorough investigation and a review of crowd control methods are crucial to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.