Negro Matapacos facts for kids
A graffito of Negro Matapacos at La Cisterna
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| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Died | 26 August 2017 (age 12) Santiago, Chile |
| Owner | María Campos |
| Offspring | 32 |
Negro Matapacos (translated as Black Cop-Killer) was a Chilean black dog that acquired fame due to his participation in the street protests that took place in Santiago, Chile, in 2011. He later became a symbol in the 2019–2020 Chilean protests as a sort of resistance to police brutality and the fight for dignity, he has many graffiti and statues made in his honor throughout the country and even in the Decolonize This Place subway protests in New York City in 2019. He was notable for his black fur and the red handkerchief that was tied around his neck, although he also had a blue and a white handkerchief that his caregiver also put on him.
His name came from Spanish matar (to kill) and paco, which is Chilean slang for "policeman".
Biography
The dog gained fame among the university circles of Santiago, mainly in the universities of Santiago (Usach), Metropolitan of Technology (UTEM) and Central (Ucen). During the 2011 student protests Negro Matapacos became known for participating in the street marches and attacking members of Carabineros de Chile, which garnered the sympathies of the Chilean protesters.
Although Negro Matapacos was considered a stray dog, due to its presence in different university headquarters and streets of Santiago, he was under the care of María Campos, who adopted him in 2009 and who fed him, had a bed for him in her residence, tied his handkerchiefs around his neck, and blessed him before he went out. During his participation in street demonstrations, several media outlets also called him the "Chilean Loukanikos", due to his similarities with the dog that became famous during the protests in Greece between 2010 and 2012.
Negro Matapacos died on August 26, 2017, attended by veterinary personnel and caregivers. Various sources mention that at the time of his death he had left descendants of 32 puppies with 6 different dogs.
See also
In Spanish: Negro Matapacos para niños
