Thousands march in Colombia against De la Espriella’s policies

Thousands of people marched in Bogotá and other Colombian cities on October 14 to protest President Abelardo de la Espriella’s policies, in a nationwide mobilization led by labor unions and opposition groups. The demonstrations were described as peaceful in other major cities, while Bogotá traffic was calmer than usual. Reports characterized turnout at different scales, from thousands to tens of thousands, without a common nationwide counting method. The march brought together teachers, public-sector workers, Indigenous people, students and other demonstrators. Gustavo Petro, the former president, joined protesters in Bogotá, as did opposition senator Iván Cepeda. Organizers said the mobilization was intended to build momentum for a broader national strike in November, but they had not announced a date for it. The protests took place amid a dispute over new government guidelines for policing demonstrations. Published shortly before the marches, the guidelines give police more leeway to intervene when protesters vandalize property or disrupt essential services. They also call for humanitarian corridors during demonstrations.