Bogotá Residents Fight Back: Community Disperses Protesters During National Strike

Bogotá Residents Confront Protesters During National Strike Bogotá, Colombia – On May 29, 2025, during a national strike fueled by the government's proposed labor reforms, residents of Bogotá's Verbenal neighborhood took matters into their own hands. Frustrated by the disruption caused by masked protesters who had erected a barricade and blocked the street, the community members actively confronted and dispersed the demonstrators. The incident, captured on video by Noticias Caracol, offers a compelling look at the tensions arising from the ongoing social unrest. "No podemos permitir que nos vandalicen el barrio, que nos sigan molestando," stated a woman, a local vendor, expressing the sentiment shared by many residents. (We cannot allow them to vandalize our neighborhood, to keep bothering us.) This quote perfectly encapsulates the anger and desperation felt by those whose daily lives were impacted by the protests. The video shows the protesters, many wearing masks and hoods, attempting to maintain their roadblock. However, the residents, aided by the arrival of police, quickly overwhelmed them, dismantling the barricade and forcing the protesters to retreat. A police officer interviewed at the scene commented on the community's active role in restoring order, highlighting the growing frustration with the violence and disruptions associated with the protests. The incident in Verbenal serves as a microcosm of the broader national strike. It reveals the complex interplay between those supporting the labor reforms and the citizens who are bearing the brunt of the protests' disruptions. While the national strike continues, the actions of the Verbenal residents demonstrate a community's resilience and determination to protect their neighborhood.