Constitutional Court rules state of emergency cannot be used to stop anti-government protest

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the government’s attempt to suspend the right of assembly. The ruling came minutes before hundreds of anti-government protesters marched through Quito’s historic district.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters marched through Quito’s historic district Thursday afternoon.

Before the court announced its decision, Interior Minister Mónica Palacios had claimed the protests were illegal under the state of emergency issued by President Daniel Noboa on October 3.

The court said, however, that the emergency restrictions applied only to law enforcement activities, such as searches and seizures, not to public gatherings and freedom of expression.

In the protest, sponsored by the United Workers Front, at least 15 police and protesters were injured, mostly by flying projectiles. Police reported that 12 protesters were arrested.

Protesters carried signs demanding Noboa’s resignation.

Earlier Thursday, police had barricaded parts of Quito’s historic district, including the Plaza Grande and the presidential palace.

In Cuenca, a small protest in front of the government building on Parque Calderon was peaceful.