Thousands of union members, human rights groups and citizens took over the 9 de Julio Avenue - Buenos Aires main avenue - in a show of protest against President Mauricio Macri’s year-long neoliberal reforms, state layoffs, hyperinflation and cuts to social programs 

Today's major protests were organized by workers unions and social movements such as the Autonomous Worker’s Central Union, State Workers Association and Standing Neighborhoods Movement, among other national syndicates that united under the “Unity Against Austerity and Layoffs” banner.

Macri and his Cambiemos party are promising to cut government spending by 25 percent in the next year. In 2017 Macri and Cambiemos cut over a thousand state jobs without notice, cut the national pension plan by 20 percent and significantly reduced energy and transportation subsidies.

Demonstrators are also fighting against government elimination of and intimidation toward unions and union leaders over the past several months.