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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn 2016, the officers accused of firing the projectile were acquitted, as it could not be determined which one pulled the trigger or whether the bullet was rubber or foam. However, the judges did find it proven that a police officer fired the shot, violating protocol. Previously, in 2015, the Catalan government publicly acknowledged its responsibility by paying \u20ac261,000 in compensation, considering that Esther lost an eye during a police operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since then, Quintana has undergone six operations and has become one of the visible faces in the fight to ban rubber bullets and foam projectiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Psychosocial impacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The loss of an eye caused Esther a series of physical and psychological traumas, which we documented in an expert report at the request of her defense. At the time of the evaluation, she was found to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, including anxiety, re-experiencing the trauma, mistrust, and insecurity. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n On a physical level, Esther experienced difficulties due to vision loss and a reduced field of vision. She also had trouble navigating in low-light environments and performing fine motor tasks, among other challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The study also identified repercussions on her body image and self-perception: a persistent feeling of vulnerability\u2014resulting from the successive surgeries and rehabilitations she was forced to undergo\u2014which compelled her to provide assistance in her daily life. Ultimately, the subject of the evaluation exhibited impairments in her outlook on life, her identity, and her belief system regarding herself, others, and the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Protesting shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 2000, at least 11 people have lost sight in one eye due to the impact of rubber or foam bullets. In 2012,\u00a0I\u00f1igo Cabacas<\/a>\u00a0He died after being shot in the head. The use of rubber bullets was also a determining factor in the deaths of 15 people in the\u00a0Tarajal beach<\/a>\u00a0during an operation by the Civil Guard in Ceuta, in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protesting shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Sign this manifesto promoted by our comrades at\u00a0Iridia Centre<\/a>\u00a0and Stop Rubber Bullets to ban rubber and foam bullets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/centrosira.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stop_balas_de_goma_1_1-1024x1024.webp\")
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