SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- Around 100,000 Costa Ricans descended on downtown San Jose this past Sunday in a massive rally protesting the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States.
The scene was colorful, as the peaceful protest featured bands and speakers trying to rally the people for the upcoming national referendum, scheduled for Oct. 7, that will decide whether the nation enters the agreement.
Reuters estimated 100,000 people manifested, while the EFE news agency put the total number at 150,000. La Nacion, one of the papers here, did not have an estimate.
This week is the home-stretch of the political and economic debate that has consumed this nation for the past year and the rally was a show of force for the side opposing CAFTA.
Meanwhile, President Oscar Arias has promised to abandon CAFTA if the trade agreement negatively affects Costa Rica.
Here are a few pictures and videos. More pictures can be found here.
Protesters danced their way to opposition:
Anti-Cafta March In Costa Rica - The best video clips are right here
Near the end of the rally, they sang the national anthem:
Anti-Cafta March In Costa Rica - The funniest videos are a click away
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