By Róger Calero May 24, 2021
Militant/Dan Fein1,500 people march in Chicago May 8 backing Colombia protests against government attacks. Sign says, “Fight so you don’t have to emigrate for a better future for you and your children.”
In the face of mass demonstrations and nationwide strikes that broke out April 28, Colombian President Iván Duque withdrew a “reform” bill May 2 raising sales taxes that would hit working people the hardest. But the protests continued. Brutal police attacks on peaceful demonstrations are adding fuel to the fire.
Called by the National Strike Committee, which includes Colombia’s main union federations, farmer associations, organizations of indigenous peoples, student groups, independent truckers and others, the protests have become an outpouring of pent-up popular outrage over government and employer moves to make working people pay for the deep capitalist crisis.