Buenos Aires, Argentina – Video filmed by X user Virginia Go captures energetic, ground-level footage on February 19, 2026, as a nationwide general strike brought streets to a standstill during protests against the government’s proposed labor reform bill.

The clip opens on Avenida Rivadavia, where protesters completely block the avenue under an overpass. A massive pink banner reading “NO TO LABOR REFORM” stretches across the road, while dozens of men, women, and youth clap rhythmically and chant in unison amid the city backdrop of storefronts, traffic lights, and distant high-rises.

As the camera pans through the crowd, smaller signs wave overhead. Groups link arms, break into spontaneous dances, pump fists, and march forward slowly, spilling onto sidewalks. Elders and families join the procession, reflecting the strike’s call to march toward Congress at noon.

Tighter angles show faces lit with resolve, hands clapping overhead, and feet stomping in synchronized rhythm. Demonstrators chant against the reforms—proposals extending probation periods, reducing severance pay, and limiting strikes—that unions say roll back decades of workers’ rights.

The footage culminates in sweeping views of the procession stretching down the avenue, with crowds pouring from side streets under cloudy skies. The solidarity mirrors mobilizations across Argentina, from Bahía Blanca to Mar del Plata, where similar marches disrupted daily life.

The strike achieved more than 90% adherence, halting transport, banks, and schools. Demonstrators converged on Congress from multiple avenues, leading to clashes with police. Stones were thrown, tear gas deployed, water cannons fired, and at least 16 people were arrested, while the labor reform bill ultimately passed, prompting condemnations and vows for continued resistance.

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