Protestors seemed to take seriously the announcement of Pan Am Games security director, General Gustavo Jorge Garc?a, who said prior to the start of the Games that the military would "take the heads off" or ?wring the necks?
("vamos a arrancarle la cabeza" and ?romperle el pescuezo?) to anyone who protests during the Games. A small march against poverty, to take place in Father Rogelio Cruz?s Cristo Rey neighborhood adjacent to the Games’ opening, was aborted on the
opening day when police fired tear gas and shots at those assembled. The protestors sought to speak out against the high cost of the Pan Am Games amidst the spiraling inflation of the Dominican Republic today.
Father Rogelio said that the ?Antorcha Contra el Hambre? activities set for Cristo Rey and Capotillo were not protests, but rather alternative activities to the Pan Am Games. As reported in Hoy newspaper, he said that no one could do more damage to
the country than the government has already done.
Plans for a second protest, scheduled in Capotillo, were also abandoned. President Hip?lito Mej?a made it clear on Saturday that there should be no public demonstrations during the Games. ?The order is that they be beaten (que les den le?a),? he
warned and compared controversial priest Rogelio Cruz to Mao Tse Tung.