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Photos: Portraits from the frontlines of worldwide protests

Protests swept the globe in 2019, with millions of people taking to the streets from Catalonia to Colombia, Haiti to Hong Kong. Each movement had its own trigger. Some were fed up with corruption and entrenched elites. Others wanted democracy or independence. Some called for reforms and others opposed them. Worries over climate change and environmental destruction also galvanised activists worldwide. The frustrations were sometimes similar, from inequality to powerlessness. Often the protests turned violent, with security forces killing several hundred people in Iran, Iraq and elsewhere. Volleys of tear gas became a familiar sight in traditionally peaceful and stable Hong Kong. Yet amid the gunfire and clouds of tear gas, there was a global solidarity as demonstrators drew on each other's determination and strength.

Updated on: Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM IST

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1/10

Alex Munoz Fuentes, 47, an accountant, with a Chilean flag in Santiago, Chile. “People in the world are tired of injustice,” said Fuentes. “I don’t want anything given for free,” “But I know that in Chile the institutions, the law and the constitution are made to abuse the working classes. I want a new deal”. “Hong Kong is similar, the authorities are not thinking about people’s well-being... I have a fraternal hug for them.” (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Alex Munoz Fuentes, 47, an accountant, with a Chilean flag in Santiago, Chile. “People in the world are tired of injustice,” said Fuentes. “I don’t want anything given for free,” “But I know that in Chile the institutions, the law and the constitution are made to abuse the working classes. I want a new deal”. “Hong Kong is similar, the authorities are not thinking about people’s well-being... I have a fraternal hug for them.” (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

2/10

Mohammad Anas Qureshi, 20, a fruit vendor, with the national flag of India in front of riot police during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi. “We are here to protest against the new citizenship law. This law is wrong against Muslims and India. It will divide the country. We won’t let it happen,” he said. “I think all the protesters all over the world are fighting for their rights.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Mohammad Anas Qureshi, 20, a fruit vendor, with the national flag of India in front of riot police during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi. “We are here to protest against the new citizenship law. This law is wrong against Muslims and India. It will divide the country. We won’t let it happen,” he said. “I think all the protesters all over the world are fighting for their rights.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

3/10

Axel Buxade, 18, a student, with a Catalan flag during a protest at University Square in Barcelona, Spain."We're here, mainly young people, outraged by the sentences and the inability of politicians to talk," said Buxade. "There have been acts of mutual support, if they reach their goal we'll be very happy," he said, referring to Hong Kong. (Rafael Marchante / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Axel Buxade, 18, a student, with a Catalan flag during a protest at University Square in Barcelona, Spain."We're here, mainly young people, outraged by the sentences and the inability of politicians to talk," said Buxade. "There have been acts of mutual support, if they reach their goal we'll be very happy," he said, referring to Hong Kong. (Rafael Marchante / REUTERS)

4/10

Umm Mahdi, 66, an Iraqi demonstrator, during the ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq. “I come to protest for rights and against illegitimacy. The government is illegitimate, there are no jobs, no housing, no services and the protesters have a good cause. I should be with them because I am like a mother to them. If the government provided jobs or housing or services to citizens the youth would not be protesting and sacrificing their lives.” (Thaier al-Sudani / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Umm Mahdi, 66, an Iraqi demonstrator, during the ongoing anti-government protests, in Baghdad, Iraq. “I come to protest for rights and against illegitimacy. The government is illegitimate, there are no jobs, no housing, no services and the protesters have a good cause. I should be with them because I am like a mother to them. If the government provided jobs or housing or services to citizens the youth would not be protesting and sacrificing their lives.” (Thaier al-Sudani / REUTERS)

5/10

A protestor, nicknamed Liberty Girl God, 15, and her boyfriend nicknamed Little Brother, 15, during a protest in front of Lennon Wall in Hong Kong, China. “We want the government to finally respond to our demands and to make changes quickly” said Liberty Girl God. “In my opinion (protestors in other countries) have the same demands as us.” “This may be a hard way to achieve our wish but I believe we will win.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

A protestor, nicknamed Liberty Girl God, 15, and her boyfriend nicknamed Little Brother, 15, during a protest in front of Lennon Wall in Hong Kong, China. “We want the government to finally respond to our demands and to make changes quickly” said Liberty Girl God. “In my opinion (protestors in other countries) have the same demands as us.” “This may be a hard way to achieve our wish but I believe we will win.” (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

6/10

Teacher Andres Felipe Vargas, 52, during a national strike in Bogota, Colombia. “The government that is currently in Colombia is an extreme right-wing government that wants to take away more and more of our rights... it is a government that only wants to encourage inequality, Colombia is the third most unequal country in the world,” Vargas said. “Throughout history it has been seen that things don’t just happen, things change with revolutions” (Luisa Gonzalez / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Teacher Andres Felipe Vargas, 52, during a national strike in Bogota, Colombia. “The government that is currently in Colombia is an extreme right-wing government that wants to take away more and more of our rights... it is a government that only wants to encourage inequality, Colombia is the third most unequal country in the world,” Vargas said. “Throughout history it has been seen that things don’t just happen, things change with revolutions” (Luisa Gonzalez / REUTERS)

7/10

Protester Didier Baylac wears a yellow vest during the 56th round of protests, with a backdrop of social discontentment triggered by president Macron’s pension reform plan in Paris, France. “All the powerful, all the rich, want us to believe we live in a wonderful world, that we are protected, we do not need to worry about anything. All this is untrue: it is only the case for the rich people who are protected ... all the other honest small people struggle.” (Benoit Tessier / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Protester Didier Baylac wears a yellow vest during the 56th round of protests, with a backdrop of social discontentment triggered by president Macron’s pension reform plan in Paris, France. “All the powerful, all the rich, want us to believe we live in a wonderful world, that we are protected, we do not need to worry about anything. All this is untrue: it is only the case for the rich people who are protected ... all the other honest small people struggle.” (Benoit Tessier / REUTERS)

8/10

Amiri Yacine, 26, a student, during a protest rejecting the December presidential election and against the country’s ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria. “We want to build a new Algeria...we want free media and a total respect of human rights. Also, we want jobs and infrastructure,” Yacine said. “My message to protesters is just be peaceful - be wise and keep calm. Fight the system with good ideas, because they don’t have ideas.” (Ramzi Boudina / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Amiri Yacine, 26, a student, during a protest rejecting the December presidential election and against the country’s ruling elite in Algiers, Algeria. “We want to build a new Algeria...we want free media and a total respect of human rights. Also, we want jobs and infrastructure,” Yacine said. “My message to protesters is just be peaceful - be wise and keep calm. Fight the system with good ideas, because they don’t have ideas.” (Ramzi Boudina / REUTERS)

9/10

Rivera Zambrano, 67, poses for a photograph as he and fellow coca farmers and supporters of Bolivia’s ousted President Evo Morales, stage a blockade at the main road of The Chapare province, in Villa Tunari, Bolivia. “There is injustice,” said Rivera. “We want peace. The previous governments did nothing for us. Only the government of Evo Morales has done something for us. We are claiming our rights.” (Marco Bello / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Rivera Zambrano, 67, poses for a photograph as he and fellow coca farmers and supporters of Bolivia’s ousted President Evo Morales, stage a blockade at the main road of The Chapare province, in Villa Tunari, Bolivia. “There is injustice,” said Rivera. “We want peace. The previous governments did nothing for us. Only the government of Evo Morales has done something for us. We are claiming our rights.” (Marco Bello / REUTERS)

10/10

Hiba Ghosn, 36, who works in the fashion industry, with her friends, as people gather during anti-government protests in Beirut, Lebanon. “They are thieves, every single one of them. They’ve been robbing us for 30 years,” she said. “The new generation should come in and politicians that are more like us, and see what we see. I think it’s gonna take a very long time to reach there...but we will. I think we’ve woken up the dragon.” (Andres Martinez Casares / REUTERS)

Updated on Dec 24, 2019 1:42 PM

Hiba Ghosn, 36, who works in the fashion industry, with her friends, as people gather during anti-government protests in Beirut, Lebanon. “They are thieves, every single one of them. They’ve been robbing us for 30 years,” she said. “The new generation should come in and politicians that are more like us, and see what we see. I think it’s gonna take a very long time to reach there...but we will. I think we’ve woken up the dragon.” (Andres Martinez Casares / REUTERS)

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