SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia—The faint aroma of burnt tires still hangs in the air. Piles of debris choke the streets of Bolivia’s largest city as lines of cars stretch in every direction at intersections, crawling through minefields of metal shards, nails, and broken glass.
It’s a jarring reminder that when the locals in Santa Cruz protest and shut down the economy, they mean business.
Piles of garbage spill into the streets, standing as tall as the goalposts in soccer fields while sanitation trucks scramble to restore regular pick-up.
It’s a scene of utter chaos as Santa Cruz residents—known locally as “Crucenos”—attempt to reclaim their city and department after 36 days of total economic shutdown….