There have been numerous protests worldwide during 2021, and perhaps the most sustained demonstrations have been those in Colombia. Beginning with passionate demonstrations against government tax reform measures in late April, the protests have grown to address grievances against police brutality, income inequality, the lack of economic opportunity, and poverty, all of which have been exacerbated during the pandemic.
Although President Ivan Duque responded to the protests by canceling the tax reform and passing police reform laws, these actions did little to quell the anger as demonstrations continued to grow throughout the year. As one protester commented, the demonstrations reflect “the accumulation of decades of injustice”.
Signs that read ‘Heroes Monument Humanitarian Zone’ at the concert Arte Unido x Colombia held at the Monumento a los Heroes, several urban music artists and mc’s performed various activities such as prints, graffiti and a community pot with the intention of uniting to support the National Strike ‘Paro Nacional’ in Bogota, Colombia on June 19, 2021. Photo: Juan Angel/Long Visual Press/UIG 
A demonstrator aims a laser at Colombia’s riot police (ESMAD) as cultural acts and demonstrations escalated later in the night to clashes between demonstrators and Colombia’s riot police (ESMAD) admist anti-government protests against president Ivan Duque, on June 17, 2021 in Bogota, Colombia. Photo: Juan Angel/Long Visual Press/UIG 
Colombia’s riot police (ESMAD) during clashes as demonstrations escalate to unrest and clashes between demonstrators and Colombia’s riot police admist anti-government demonstrations against president of Colombia Ivan Duque, police brutality and inequalities in Pasto, Colombia on June 9, 2021. Photo: Camilo Erasso/Long Visual Press/UIG 
A couple wearing Colombia’s national football team shirts and a Colombian flag walk towards the demonstration as thousands gathered to protest against the president of Colombia Ivan Duque Maraquez and the cases of unrest and police brutality that had left at least 45 dead during the first month of demonstrations, in Bogota, Colombia on May 28, 2021. Photo: Maria Jose Gonzalez Beltran/Long Visual Press/UIG 
Demonstrators make barricades and light fires to stop colombia’s riot police from approaching during clashes as people protest in an anti-government protest against president Ivan Duque and police brutality after a month of demonstrations that had left at least 45 dead in unrest and police abuse of authority cases, in Medellin, Antioquia – Colombia on May 28, 2021. Photo: Miyer Juana/Long Visual Press/UIG 
Demonstrators shelter behind handcrafted shields as a riot armoured truck shoots water at them during clashes with Colombia’s riot police (ESMAD) as anti-government protests rise into a 5th week against the government of president Ivan Duque’s health and tax reform, and police abuse of authority cases in Medellin, Colombia on June 2, 2021. Photo: Miyer Juana/Long Visual Press/UIG 
People flood the streets of Pasto, Narino as demonstrators commemorated the students who lost their lives during anti-government protests against president Ivan Duque’s health and tax reform, police brutality and inequalities in the city on June 7, 2021 in Pasto, Narino. Photo: Sebastian Maya/Long Visual Press/UIG 
A demonstrator wears a mask with the Colombian national flag colors and the acronym ‘S.O.S’ as demonstrations escalate to unrest and clashes between demonstrators and Colombia’s riot police amidst anti-government demonstrations against president of Colombia Ivan Duque, police brutality and inequalities in Pasto, Colombia on June 9, 2021. Photo: Camilo Erasso/Long Visual Press/UIG 
Demonstrators light up a fire cracker launcher as clashes and riots evolve in Medellin, Colombia between demonstrators and riot police (ESMAD) after security cameras and commerce were affected by the protest. In Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia on 22, 2021. Photo: Miyer Juana/Long Visual Press/UIG 
A demonstrator rises his fist inside the red portion of the Colombian flag in the middle of a demonstration as others behind wave Colombian flags as clashes and riots evolve in Medellin, Colombia between demonstrators and riot police (ESMAD) after security cameras and commerce were affected by the protest. In Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia on 22, 2021. Photo: Miyer Juana/Long Visual Press/UIG 
Hundreds of demonstrators with Colombian flags and signs gather at Yumbo, Cali, Valle del Cauca in Colombia during May 19, 2021 to protest against the government of president Ivan Duque and police brutality cases during the protests that leave at least 40 dead. Demonstrations took place where a petrol station caught fire the night before during the protest and clashes between ESMAD police and demonstrators. Photo: Mauricio Romero/Long Visual Press/UIG 
A symbolic act is held lighting candles in commemoration of all the victims who have left the protest in the context of national strike in Pasto Narino on May 3, 2021. Photo: Camilo Erasso/Long Visual Press/UIG
While most of the demonstrations have been peaceful, there has been looting, property damage and fires set at blockades throughout the country’s cities. The police response has frequently been brutal, with government forces being directly responsible for nearly 50 deaths since the demonstrations began.
UIG contributing partner Long Visual Press has provided eyewitness accounts of the protests and government response and continue to update us with dramatic coverage as the demonstrations continue.
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Sources:
International Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/andes/colombia/090-pandemic-strikes-responding-colombias-mass-protests
New York Times. “Why are Colombians Protesting?” by Julie Turkewitz, May 18, 2021 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/americas/colombia-protests-what-to-know.html