chaos in Quito

Apparently the police are striking today, upset that the president has taken away thier "special benefits" to make it more equitable for all goverment workers. I heard that they threw bottles at him and he is currently in the hospital, although they would like to see him gone for good. I am at school in Cumbaya but Quito is crazy, I hear- with tear gas bombs, looting, and many streets closed for protests. All the parents are coming to pick up their kids as all of our buses have been cancelled. I am taking Uma to a co-worker´s sister house near the school in Cumbaya until everything cools down. All this reminds me of 9-11 during my first week of teaching in Brooklyn....