A Protest in Crimson

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — This is a bit of a late post, but I’ve been incredibly busy with applying for some fellowships and trying to find a new place to live. But to back up, on Jan. 10, Bogotá’s embattled mayor, Gustavo Petro, called for a show of support as he fought removal from office by Inspector General Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado. In December, Ordóñez ordered the removal of Petro for his mismanagement the reform of the city’s waste removal system. Petro was further banned from politics for 15 years. Many in Colombia have considered this decision an overreach on Ordóñez’s part and undemocratic.

The battle has been fought in Colombia’s courts and on the streets, particularly in Plaza de Bolívar, where thousands gathered on a seemingly weekly basis to protest the inspector general’s decision. Adding to the confusion, Petro is facing an April 6 recall vote — which he probably would have lost if Ordóñez hadn’t turned him into a political martyr. And various court rulings have stayed the inspector general’s ruling, meaning that Petro is facing both removal from office by the voters and an unelected official, who all say is a political enemy of anyone on the left in Colombia.

Anyway, it’s a mess. But here are some pictures from one of the larger rallies. I hope you enjoy them.

Image courtesy of Chris Allbritton

2 Comments on “A Protest in Crimson

  1. These pictures are amazing……Awesome seriously !!
    Please publish some more!

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