Protests Expected Today In Bogotá, Medellín, Cali Colombia – Expect Traffic & Security Challenges

Demonstrations, organized by the Primera Linea (front line) movement, are planned for today, Friday October 28, 2022, in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali.

In Bogota, marches are anticipated to begin at 10:00 am. at Universidad Pedagogica and 11:00 am at Universidad Nacional. The group is also calling for a sit-in protest in front of the National Prosecutor’s building (Fiscalia) starting at 12:00 p.m. These sites are near the Avenida El Dorado artery leading to and from the El Dorado International Airport, so complete blockages are possible. Allow hours of extra time to and from the airport if traveling.

In Medellin, the march is planned to begin at 10:00 a.m. from Parque De Los Deseos, aka Parque Resistencia across from the University of Antioquia. Typically, protests travel south and end up in the city’s downtown area.

In Cali, the march is planned to begin at 2:00 p.m. from Plazoleta de San Francisco, already in the city’s central district near government offices.

Though these protests are completely focused on domestic issues, it is advisable to avoid areas around demonstrations whenever possible and exercise caution when in the vicinity of large gatherings as even peaceful demonstrations have the potential to turn violent without any warning.   Many of the previous demonstrations organized by the Primera Linea movement have ended violently, though in many cases the police instigated the violence.

Today’s protests are organized by the Primera Linea movement to pressure the government to release its members that have been arrested for vandalism and public disorder in previous protests.

Actions to Take: 

• Avoid protest areas.
• Avoid crowds and
• Monitor local media for updates.
• Exercise vigilance.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Plan for alternative travel routes.