Five numbers that explain why the Colombian crisis won’t end anytime soon
Police brutality, inequality, rising violence and a deeply unpopular administration are driving demonstrations across the country
Bogotá, Colombia- Protests in Colombia just celebrated their month anniversary. Tens of thousands are currently in the streets, roadblocks have stopped the flow of goods at critical commercial transport hubs and parts of the country are quite literally in flames. The movement has moved far beyond simple tax reform and into the realm of deep historical structural problems: rampant inequality, lack of educational and economic opportunities for the poor, and the Colombian state’s historical propensity for violence.
The government drew international condemnation for it’s brutal police response to mostly peaceful protests that left dozens dead, and Centro Democrático, the party of president Iván Duque has tried to lay the blame on an ever changing cast of villains ever since — from rebel guerilla groups, to Cuba, to his political rivals, to neighboring Venezuela, even recently blaming Russia and K-pop fans.
Meanwhile, the biggest port in Colombia is blocked by strikers and even cities that aren’t known for political activism are witnessing demonstrations by angry…
