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People are really poorly informed on the situation in Peru, with piss-poor reporting on a complicated situation there. Most people on Reddit seem to think these are Castillo supporters, when in reality these are mostly just pissed-off indigenous people who are tired of having a clusterfuck government (and tired of government-approved mines polluting their water).

Peru has had 7 presidents since 2017 (tl;dr: vote buying scandal, money laundering scandal, resignations, votes of no confidence, impeachments, imprisonments, multiple constitutional crises) amid economic instability, COVID-19, periodic mass unrest and a low-level civil war between the government and Shining Path for the last few decades. There's plenty to be mad about, especially for members of an ethnic minority who have faced systemic persecution (particularly as it pertains to environmental activism re: mining activities and pollution of Lake Titicaca).

Because according to their Constitution, the VP becomes president — there isn’t a new election immediately held. The next presidential election takes place in April 2024.

There was a proposal to move the election date sooner to December 2023 but Congress voted against it.

The protestors are definitely calling for the release of Castillo. https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2023/01/10/peru-rejects-its-new-president-17-dead-in-violent-unrest.html Castillo tried to dissolve Congress to stop the investigation into his corruption and to block an impeachment. Castillo's VP - Boluarte is now the 6th Peruvian President in 5 years and has been on the job for 1 month. I assume she'll serve out the rest of his 5 year term and then be barred from running for re-election as Peru's constitution is currently written.