piquetero

thumb|Piqueteros at a protest rally, September 2005

A piquetero is a member of a group that has blocked a street with the purpose of demonstrating and calling attention over a particular issue or demand. The word is a neologism in Argentine Spanish, coming from piquete (in English, "picket"), that is, its specific meaning as a standing or walking demonstration of protest in a significant spot. The practice began in Argentina in the mid-1990s during the administration of President Carlos Menem, soon becoming a frequent form of protest that still prevails on the South American socio-political scene. In 2005, it was reported that 70% of the piqueteros are women, and some of their leaders are women too, like Milagro Sala from Jujuy.