00:00Colombian trade unions, teachers and student movements have launched nationwide mobilizations
00:06against government austerity cuts and newly enacted police intervention protocols.
00:12Protesters gather in major urban centers including Barranquilla to demand increased funding for
00:20public education, fair labor contracts, the healthcare access and minimum wage adjustments.
00:26The demonstrations mark the first major national strike action facing the Abelardo de la Espriella
00:33administration taking place just 24 hours after the government issued Decree 1525 to broaden
00:40police powers during public gatherings, social movements, warranted strict police intervention
00:46frameworks and proposed security legislation, threatening constitutional protest rights amid
00:52growing socialist content.
00:59We are here today marching against foreign interference in Colombian sovereignty and also in the struggle
01:09for respect for autonomy in our country's education system.
01:16Varios organizations and historic collectives from neighborhoods and working class areas of the
01:21cities are mobilizing against the illegitimate government of Abelardo de la Espriella, against
01:26fascist militaristic and repressive measures, against attempts to violate university autonomy and we
01:33are also mobilizing for national sovereignty, rejecting all forms of U.S. intervention. This is neither the
01:39first nor the last time we will take to the streets and we will continue to do so as long
01:44as necessary.
01:45Thank you very much.
