Demonstrations in support of the Government of Gustavo Petro paralyze the center of Bogotá

Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Bogotá this Wednesday morning to join the demonstrations called by the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro.. The leader has called on unions, workers, indigenous people and peasants to defend the reforms promoted by his Government in the mobilization called 'For peace, for life, for social justice'.

The union centers took to the streets and were joined by the Vice Minister of Labor, Edwin Palma, along with some 10,000 indigenous people who arrived in the Colombian capital in recent days from different parts of the country. With flags of the different indigenous communities and organizations and chants of “long live President Gustavo Petro”, the protesters advance through the center of the city, guarded by the indigenous guard.

In the Plaza de Bolívar, the center of political power in Colombia, a stage was installed where a concert will be held in the afternoon and where, in principle, Petro will intervene, although his office reported that this Wednesday the president will have a “private government agenda.” and no intervention is planned.

About 32,000 people are expected to arrive at this square, most of them part of the indigenous minga, according to the calculations of the organizers of the march.

“About 20,000 people have traveled to Bolívar Square from the Tercer Milenio, Renacimiento and Nacional parks along with more than 200 managers and 1,300 police units,” a spokesperson for the Government Secretariat reported on the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Due to the marches, the TransMilenio stations – Bogotá's public bus system – at Museo Nacional, Las Nieves, San Siego, San Victorino and Museo del Oro remain closed. Traffic has also been cut off on several streets, both due to cars blocking the road and due to the progress of the march.

Demonstrations throughout the country

In other cities in Colombia, such as Medellín, Cali and Barranquilla, these demonstrations of support for the Government have also been promoted.

Petro's ministers have been in charge of promoting the call, which is why complaints have arisen of alleged government aid to popular organizations to join the demonstrations, something that the Executive denies.