Free Republic

Colombia: Dressed up as Hamas terrorists riding in a van at the Halloween celebrations_br> ... "People got into the van to take pictures And they made one big 'fun' out of it" N12| Published 04.11.23. ...For anyone who came near them they made a scene where they seemed to shoot him...

Western embassies in Colombia have roundly condemned the graffiti. However, Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, has yet to say anything.

The figure of the European explorer, after whom Colombia is named, was dragged from its plinth with ropes and vandalised. The demonstration marked two months since the start of a nationwide protest movement calling for social reform. Indigenous activists see Columbus as a symbol of colonialism and oppression. The Columbus statue is the latest to be pulled from its pedestal as part of the anti-government protests which have been sweeping through the country.

I went to my place of birth, Barranquilla, Colombia (pop.: approx. 1.3 million), for 2 weeks, from January 2-19. Pretty much I arrived to the same country I left 3 years ago: -Same guerrilla and paramilitary violence. -Same recession. -Same widespread corruption. But, hey, I still love the place. A few anecdotes: 1) My dad gave me his car to move around in town, because I wanted to rent a car (not a very bright idea there). One of my cousins, a 34-year-old Bill Clinton sexual emulator wanted me to take him to a particularly seedy part of the city...