Cali Man Faces Charges After Racist Tirade Against Transit Officer Goes Viral, Sparking Outrage Across Colombia

A verbal and racist assault by a citizen against a municipal transit officer in Cali has led to criminal charges and widespread condemnation from the public and high-level government officials, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The man, identified as Henry Alexis Velasco, was captured on video delivering a stream of racist and derogatory insults to traffic agent José Félix Angulo Cabezas. After the video circulated widely on social media, Velasco was arrested and has since accepted the charges brought against him by the Fiscalía General de la Nación (Attorney General’s Office).

#Cali/ este sujeto agredió verbalmente con palabras racistas a un agente de tránsito cuando se encontraba realizando actividades propias del servicio al frente de un establecimiento comercial. pic.twitter.com/Wn1e5hIPak

— Denuncias Antioquia (@DenunciasAntio2) May 16, 2025

The incident has ignited a national conversation on racism and the legal protections afforded to public servants in Colombia.

Timeline of Events

• Mid-May 2025: In the El Peñón neighborhood of Cali, Henry Alexis Velasco verbally attacks and harasses transit agent José Félix Angulo Cabezas. The incident is filmed and later posted on social media.
• May 17, 2025: The video gains national attention. Public figures and organizations begin to react. Industria Licorera de Caldas issues a statement after Velasco is seen wearing a shirt with their branding. The restaurant where Velasco worked, 891 Gastropub, also releases a statement.
• Following Days: President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Márquez condemn the act. The Mayor’s Office of Cali announces measures against the establishment where Velasco was employed.
• May 23, 2025: Velasco is captured by authorities. During his arraignment, he accepts the charges of violence against a public servant and acts of racism or discrimination. A judge orders him to be placed under house arrest as the judicial process continues.

The Racist Attack

The event occurred in the El Peñón sector of Cali when Velasco, a bartender, approached and began insulting agent Angulo Cabezas. According to reports from El Colombiano, Velasco was recorded shouting phrases such as, “You are black trash” (“sos un negro basura”), and “if you were smart, you wouldn’t be a guard” (“si fueras inteligente, no serías guarda”).

The transit officer, Angulo Cabezas, later stated his resolve in the face of the attack. “Do I, an Afro or a black man like I am, not deserve to be a transit agent? Do I not have the same capabilities as others? I do have them. If I am here, it was because I trained and studied to serve in my job,” he commented when denouncing the case.

Widespread Condemnation and Official Response

The viral nature of the video prompted swift reactions. Cali’s Mayor, Alejandro Eder, announced on social media that his administration had taken action. “In Cali, there is no room for racism, illegality, or violence,” Eder stated, as reported by El País Cali. The Mayor’s Office proceeded to close the 891 Gastropub, the establishment where Velasco was employed, citing its failure to comply with required documentation.

The restaurant, 891 Gastropub, issued a formal communication distancing itself from the incident. As detailed by Infobae, the establishment stated that Velasco’s actions “do not represent the way we operate or our principles,” and confirmed he had resigned.

Because Velasco was wearing a shirt featuring a brand from Industria Licorera de Caldas (ILC), the state-owned liquor company also issued a statement. According to a report from El País Cali, the company rejected the act and clarified that Velasco was not a direct employee but rather a collaborator of a third-party distributor. As previously covered by Finance Colombia, ILC is a significant, state-owned enterprise based in Manizales.

The nation’s highest leaders also weighed in. President Gustavo Petro posted on X, stating succinctly, “It’s called racism and it is a crime punishable by prison” (El País Cali).

Vice President Francia Márquez, an outspoken advocate against racial discrimination, also condemned the attack. “Racism is a form of violence and is classified as a crime. I call on the Attorney General’s Office to investigate these events… these events cannot be repeated. No more racism!” she stated, according to El Tiempo.

Criminal Charges and Legal Future

Following his arrest, Henry Alexis Velasco was charged with violence against a public servant and acts of discrimination, both aggravated. According to a report from El Colombiano, Velasco accepted the charges during a hearing.

Under the Colombian penal code, the charge of violence against a public servant carries a potential sentence of four to eight years in prison. The crime of aggravated discrimination can lead to a sentence of 12 to 36 months in prison and significant fines (El País Cali). Velasco is currently under house arrest as his case proceeds through the justice system.

El hombre aceptó los cargos en su contra y, por disposición de un juez de control de garantías, deberá cumplir medida de aseguramiento privativa de la libertad en su lugar de residencia.

Información completa aquí: https://t.co/dBsLupTNLu pic.twitter.com/UJTs9j8zME

— Fiscalía Colombia (@FiscaliaCol) May 24, 2025