logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
20m 14s

What’s behind Colombia’s month of mass p...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

What began as a strike against a tax proposal in Colombia has now escalated into a nationwide protest movement over some of Colombia’s most deep-seated issues. Protesters are demanding structural changes to ease inequality and end police violence. After a month of demonstrations, President Ivan Duque’s popularity has hit record lows, and protesters are staying out in the streets. So what’s behind Colombia’s month of unrest?


In this episode: 

Al Jazeera correspondent Alessandro Rampietti @Rampietti; Cam Aaron Lopez Duarte @depresssioncherry of @TembloresONG.


Connect with The Take: 

Twitter (@AJTheTake), Instagram (@ajthetake) and Facebook (@TheTakePod)

Up next
Today
How did Lula da Silva cut Amazon deforestation in half?
When Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office more than a year ago, he pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. He’s on the right track: Last year, the forest shrank 50% less than in 2022. But the clock is ticking. Will Lula manage to keep his word? Th ... Show More
23m 12s
Aug 23
Another Take: Why hasn't Pakistan recovered from its catastrophic floods?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 22, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Pakistan is still reeling from 2022’s deadly floods, which put a third of the country underwater. Tho ... Show More
20m 45s
Aug 22
Why are Sudanese refugees returning home despite the civil war?
Nearly two and a half years into Sudan’s war, millions remain displaced. Yet some refugees are making the difficult choice to return home, despite the ongoing conflict. UNHCR’s Mamadou Dian Balde explains why Sudanese families are going back, the challenges awaiting them, and the ... Show More
23m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
A Crisis in Peru Signals Trouble for South America
A few weeks ago, when President Pedro Castillo of Peru attempted an illegal power grab and ended up in jail, the response was unexpected: Thousands of protesters took to the streets to support him, and some died.Why does such a divisive leader have such fierce backing? And what d ... Show More
31m 8s
May 2024
Columbia’s Protests, Then and Now
This week’s Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University led to more than 100 arrests after students barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall. This happened in the exact same building where anti-war student protestors demonstrated 56 years ago to the day, according to Columbia ... Show More
23m 53s
Nov 2022
Can the Iranian protests succeed where others have failed?
Protests in Iran flared up again today, despite the Revolutionary Guards setting a weekend deadline for getting off the streets. There have been widespread protests in the country before, but these were cracked down on in brutal fashion. Is this time any different? And does the w ... Show More
55 m
Mar 2023
What’s behind the protests in Africa?
Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga, called his supporters out onto the streets on Monday– leading to a day of unrest and clashes in the capital Nairobi. He says the protests will be weekly – to the dismay of many business owners. Odinga claims that the presidential election ... Show More
16m 41s
May 2024
Protestors Storm Columbia Building, Barricade Themselves Inside
Campus protests are hitting a whole new level at Columbia University with violence and vandalism and anti-war demonstrators barricading themselves in a university building. The university is warning people to stay away from campus. Plus, the major move coming from the Biden admin ... Show More
1h 28m
Jun 2022
Colombia breaks with its past
Gustavo Petro has been voted in as Colombia’s first ever leftist president – the former rebel and long-time senator campaigned to radically overhaul Colombia’s economy and bring an end to inequality. Katy Watson reports from Colombia’s capital Bogota on the country’s decisive bre ... Show More
28m 35s
Apr 2024
Columbia, Cornell Start Suspending Student Protesters
Columbia University started suspending students who refused to comply with a deadline to vacate the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus. Meanwhile, Cornell University said it was suspending student protesters who declined to move to an alternate location. Anderson speaks to Colu ... Show More
47m 57s
Apr 2024
The Crackdown on Student Protesters
Columbia University has become the epicenter of a growing showdown between student protesters, college administrators and Congress over the war in Gaza and the limits of free speech.Nicholas Fandos, who covers New York politics and government for The Times, walks us through the i ... Show More
38m 35s
May 2021
From a tax to attacks: Colombia’s unrelenting unrest
Protests that began last month show no sign of abating; our correspondent speaks with Iván Duque, the country’s increasingly beleaguered president. Revelations about a blockbuster 1995 interview with Princess Diana cast a shadow over the BBC—when it already has plenty of fires to ... Show More
21m 24s
Mar 2021
Colombia Welcomes Venezuelan Refugees With Open Arms: Will The U.S. Do The Same?
Colombian President Iván Duque won praise from the United Nations, Pope Francis and the Biden administration with his recent announcement that Colombia would welcome Venezuelan refugees with open arms — providing protected status, work permits and legal residency for up to 10 yea ... Show More
14m 20s