"Miss Universe Amidst Mass Arrests: Protests Rock El Salvador"
Hundreds of protesters in El Salvador demonstrated against an anti-gang crackdown ahead of the country hosting the Miss Universe competition for the first time since 1975. The crackdown, which has led to the arrest of over 70,000 alleged gang members, has been controversial, with human rights groups alleging arbitrary arrests, torture, and deaths of detainees. While the crackdown is popular among Salvadorans for reducing crime rates, protesters aimed to highlight the suffering caused by the measures to the Miss Universe delegates. The demonstration comes as El Salvador invests $60 million to host the international event.
