While the Pinochet regime attempted to silence the voices of workers and supporters of organized labor, as well as their families, it was ultimately the working class that was able to drive Pinochet from power in 1990. The mothers and wives of many of the disappeared victims of the regime began to organize sit-ins in protest of the regime. International pressure was put on Pinochet to resign and to allow democratic rule to return to the country. Pope John Paul II declared that he believed Pinochet to be a dictator and reportedly urged the leader to allow elections and even resign during a 1987 meeting in Chile.
After being pushed from office, fearing prosecution, Pinochet fled to the United Kingdom. Protesters called for Pinochet to face justice and he was ultimately arrested for murder and human rights abuses in 1998. Despite calls from the international community for Pinochet to be held accountable for atrocities committed during his regime, both former President George H. W. Bush and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher called for his release. Former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher even referred to Pinochet as a “political prisoner” and argued his human rights were being violated as he was held in the United Kingdom.