Protected Workshop #19

Argentina is quickly becoming one of the most progressive countries in the Americas, boasting a public healthcare system that is free to all. ＇El Hospital Borda＇ or ＇El Borda,＇ as it＇s more commonly known, is a full-service public psychiatric hospital located in the heart of the City of Buenos Aires. The hospital also runs inpatient and outpatient workshops or ＇Talleres＇ to teach the patients a variety of skills and trades, and to ultimately help them integrate better into society once they are released. ＇Taller Protegido No19＇ or ＇Protected Workshop #19,＇ was the only workshop available to patients unable to leave the hospital, as it was located within the walls of the Borda complex. El Borda and its various Talleres happen to be located on prime real-estate that the Municipal Government, with (at the time of filming) mayor Mauricio Macri at the helm, wants to use to build a $2.5 billion (USD) Civic Centre Complex. Macri attempted for over a year to receive a court order to demolish the workshop and re-purpose the land for his own use. The courts ruled in favour of the workshop, and Macri was given an injunction to not touch any land on the Borda grounds. On April 26th, 2013, Macri disregarded the injunction and commanded the Municipal Police Force to illegally occupy the Borda complex. This is the story about the people who fought back.