Young Londoners and Colombians fighting side by side against police brutality
- Adele Paiardini
- May 7, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: May 18, 2021
Video by Adele Paiardini
Why are people protesting in Colombia?
Columbia’s rising of poverty, inequity, and unemployment due to the pandemic brought many people to protests against PM Iván Duque’s proposal of a tax overhaul.
According to the government, this reform is necessary, as the country’s debts increased during the past year, Columbia cannot afford a further debt increase. On the other side, the protestants argue that this reform will have a negative impact on the exhausted Colombian middle and lower class, which is already suffering the economic consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Furthermore, police brutality and the killing of 19 people, two of which were teenagers, got the protestants angrier. In particular, the video of the 17-year-old Marcelo Agredo’s death went viral. It shows the boy kicking a policeman and the officer responding by shooting him on his back as he runs away. It had a strong impact on public opinion, rising the willingness of revenge across the county.
On Sunday, the PM announced the withdraw of his proposal and promised to seek a new plan. ''Nothing, justifies armed people who, protected by the legitimate desires of citiziens to march, go out to shoot defensless citiziens and cruely attack our police'' addeded Iván Duque. The day after the country’s finance minister resigned. But the protests continued across the country and the world.
Is the information about the number of deaths reliable?
After the UN condemned the violent repression of Colombia, Amnesty International denounced police repression of demonstration too.
According to Amnesty International, the number of deaths and injuries caused by the National Police is higher than the official report. The local civil organizations reported 26 people killed, 142 victims of mistreatment, nine victims of sexual violence, and 56 people disappearing in the context of the demonstrations.
‘’The Colombian authorities must promptly, independently, and impartially investigate all allegations of excessive and unnecessary use of force against demonstrators, which has resulted in dozens of people being killed and injured, arbitrary detentions, acts of torture and sexual violence, and reports of people disappearing.’’ Stated Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International.
What do Young Londoners and Colombians have in common?
On Wednesday young Londoners organized a demonstration in front of Trafalgar Square to show solidarity to the Colombian community. London streets were full of people fighting for democracy and asking for the end of police brutality.
In both cases, these two young and culturally different generations ask for the same thing: more democracy and the end of the abuse of power by the police. While Colombian’s protest took the name of Marcelo Agredo, London symbol of democracy is Sarah Evard, the young woman kidnapped and murdered by a police officer. Watching Londoners fighting side by side with young Colombians clearly shows that state violence is not a matter of poverty in a country.
On Wednesday London offered its streets to Colombian protesters, but young British people know that Colombian’s struggle is everyone’s. Police brutality is a thing, it happens everywhere and Gen Z wants politicians to reform the military system because innocent people deserve to live. Londoners and Colombians in front of Trafalgar Square pretending the end of human rights violations proves that this young generation will not stop fighting for a better world.
Pictures by Koraima
Comments