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Fifty-four protesters nationwide – and two police officers – have been killed, according to UN News. The protesters in Cali have been met by a force of soldiers, police and anti-riot squads that grew to 3,000 at one point. … A lot of ugly things are happening … the police are abusing their power, the president doesn’t listen to the people.” JMenny also marched in recent months. His group wrote the song, he said, “because of everything with the protests – in Cali, in Buenaventura. Although it is the country’s most important commercial port, “our schools don’t have potable water, and we only have one hospital, where you go to die,” JMenny said on a WhatsApp call. He was born in Cali and lives in Buenaventura, a city of roughly 310,000, the majority of whom are Black, nearly three hours from Cali by car. Titled “Policia No Me Mate,” or “Police Don’t Kill Me,” the song includes lyrics such as, “ People are tired and our hearts are hurting, to see how the government treats us like garbage.”Ī 17-year-old rapper who goes by JMenny wrote and sang those lyrics. When a group of nine young Black rappers who call themselves “Cronic Gang” made a video of their song in support of the protests, they also wore the colors. Nevertheless, the bright yellow jerseys continued showing up at the marches. Colombia lost any home-field advantage and finished third in the tournament, behind the winner, Argentina, and finalist Brazil. On May 20, the regional governing body for the sport moved the matches to Brazil. “They questioned, ‘How can we let the ball roll down a field amidst so much death? Is it ethical to enjoy football when our hospitals are collapsing, our young people are disappearing?’ ” said Olaya Requene. Unexpectedly, at some point, protesters wearing the jersey moved about as far away as imaginable from supporting the national team itself, as protesters opposed plans made in in mid-May for Colombia to host matches in the continent’s 105-year-old tournament, Copa América.
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Tens of thousands of Cali residents – caleños – have taken to the streets, banging drums, shouting anti-government chants, and wearing the bright yellow jersey of the national football, or soccer, team. The protests were first held in opposition to a proposed regressive tax reform that would have added a 19% tax to many everyday goods and services, and then, to police violence, inequality, a lack of opportunity for young people, and also about social issues, such as poverty, which have only gotten worse as the government has struggled to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. If you search social media under the hashtags #ParoNacional or #SOScolombia, you’ll find photos and videos taken during the three months of national uprising. In Colombia, the city of Cali is the site of the Andean nation’s largest and most violent public protests in recent months.