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Politician's Comments Sparks Outrage Following Protests

COLOMBIA
Colombia politician tells protesters hurt by police to 'stop crying over one eye' (Guardian)
  • After a month of protests in which 46 people have suffered eye injuries from police teargas rounds and rubber bullets, a Colombian politician has prompted outrage by saying that supporters of the anti-poverty demonstrations should "stop crying over one eye".
  • "Don't fool Colombians and don't fool the international community and stop crying over one eye," said Paola Holguín, a senator from the ruling Centro Democrático party, to opposition politicians during a virtual floor speech on Wednesday afternoon.
  • Since protests erupted in April, the police response has been brutal. At least 43 protesters have been killed by officers, according to local human rights monitor, Temblores.
  • "We worry that Holguín's speech legitimizes the violent actions of state forces," said Alejandro Lanz, the director of Temblores. "These expressions of violence, coming from representatives of governing parties, are generating material impacts on the streets."

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