In Colombia on April 28th, the country’s largest trade unions and other organizations organized a national strike against a tax hike, and the state responded with repression. Since then, Colombians across the country have been marching every day, and there has been a consistent escalation of violence from the state.
In solidarity, there’s an event happening in Milwaukee Wisconsin on Monday May 10th, at Walkers Square Park starting at 5PM, organized by Colombians in diaspora known as the Red Condor Collective. They’ve been supporting Colombia prior to the massive uprising, and are continuing to support activists on the ground there, raising $25,000 to uplift organizers.
The event in Milwaukee on May 10 is part of an international call to action to pressure governments to denounce all human rights violations happening in Colombia.
The Colombian military and national police has killed more than 30 protesters, and as of today there have been over 80 civilians and activists who have disappeared by acts of the national police. Colombian police are shooting expired tear gas directly into people’s faces and limbs that turns into cyanide when expired, and security forces have cut electricity in poor and working class urban areas, as well as opening lethal fire.
The biggest question amongst Colombians is where is democracy? Where is international support in light of this humanitarian crisis?
“Dozens of Colombians have been abused, murdered, and disappeared,’ says Eric, an organizer with The Red Condor Collective. “It is important for people in the United States to stand in solidarity with Colombia because the United States government provides the political, military, and financial support which makes this violence possible.”
Colombians are demanding an end to US military aid to Colombia, an end to the repression, and the prosecution of the government officials who gave the orders to attack peaceful demonstrators. They are also demanding a guaranteed annual income for every Colombian so that millions no longer would have to live in poverty.
Solidarity protests are happening all over the world and can be followed through digital platforms with the hashtags #soscolombia #ColombiaEnDictadura #NosEstanMatando.