Pot-banging has been a protest recourse for decades in the Dominican Republic. But after introduced as a peaceful protest action, Venezuela’s pot-banging “cacerolazo” is a global protest tool. Now, for those who are lazy, there is the “Icacerola,” a mobile application that replicates the rumbling of the pots. This can be connected to a home theater or loudspeakers.
The app was developed in Chile in 2011 by Gustavo Canales, but that became more useful in 2019, within the framework of the social crisis enveloping that South American nation. It is now finding use in the Dominican Republic. The “Icacerola” allows its users to play an audio file of “cacerolazos” in order to digitally join the cause and social discontent.
On the platform, the image of a pot is visualized and plays noise that imitates the sound of banging pots.
Meanwhile, in the National District resounding cacerolazos rumbled four times on Sunday, 23 February 2020 in the wealthy neighborhoods of Santo Domingo, such as Naco, Piantini, Bella Vista or Gazcue, and was replicated in shopping centers across the country, where visitors used whatever they had on hand to make noise and make themselves felt.
The protests groups say the pot-banging exercise is scheduled every evening from 8 to 8:10pm as part of the preparations for the demonstration set for 27 February, Independence Day, at the Plaza de las Banderas.
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El Nuevo Diario
25 February 2020