the working class. Considering that Santiago at the time had 320 000 inhabitants, the demonstration was huge. Apart from those that gathered in Santiago demonstrations were held all over Chile. From the meeting point at La Alameda, a demonstration group that included ten neighborhood associations plus 41 trade unions and mutual aid societies marched to Palacio de La Moneda where they planned to deliver a petition to president Germán Riesco. Red Week Upon arrival to La Moneda it was found that president Germán Riesco was not there. A minor group of protesters were told by government representative that the president was at his residence a few blocks away. This minority group marched to the residence where protest leaders were allowed to enter to deliver the petition document and to chat with the president. The chat went over to lengthy discussions. Meanwhile, the majority of the protesters were unaware of the meeting and thought that the president had turned his back on them by refusing a meeting. A rumour saying that the president had left Santiago spread. In this atmosphere violence erupted. Demonstrators attacked "buildings and public structure" and police attacked the demonstrators. Police stations, private residences, telegraph and telephone lines were attacked and stores were pillaged. At 4–5 o'clock most workers retired from the city centre. By the same time the looting intensified. See also List of food riots References Bibliography La "huelga de la carne" retrieved 03. September 2008 Mass murder in 1905 Riots and civil disorder in Chile Massacres in Chile Food riots History of labour relations in Chile 1905 riots 1905 in Chile Protests in Chile October 1905 events 1905 murders in Chile