IR #5 (Prompt 4, Chapter 5)

In this chapter, Miguel and friend Frankie head to Concepcion for footage of the infamous mines. They board the train and start their long trip. As they reach the city's center, they recount the tragedy of father, Sebastian Acevedo. It was at that plaza, which he revolted against the torture of his two children. They were arrested for the possession of firearms and were sentenced to torture. Sebastian sat outside the cathedral along with hundreds of spectators and covered himself in gasoline. He then threatened the police that he would set himself on fire if they do not let his children free. He told the crowd and the police that if anyone crossed the yellow line he would immediately ignite himself. Losing patience in the riots, a police officer stepped over the line and Sebastian set himself on fire pictured to the left. He burned for seven long hours until he was finally taken to the hospital where he asked to speak to his twenty-year old daughter. The doctors would not allow her to see the grotesque scene so she only spoke to him through the intercom. After his death, they let his children free and Concepcion is secretly called Plaza Sebastian Acevedo.

This whole story seemed unimaginable to me and I had a really hard time reading the description. For things to get that bad where people are setting themselves on fire is ridiculous and the police, at that point need, to be stopped. To die in such a horrifying way is inhuman and completely unethical. How can the police allow an innocent man to set himself on fire? Even now I still cannot come to terms with how shocked and disgusted that story made me.