Colombian riot police disperse protest at National Museum over artwork removal

Protesters gathered at Bogotá's National Museum to oppose the removal of 30 artworks ordered by President Abelardo de la Espriella. The pieces, linked to feminist, LGBTIQ+, and political campaigns, were taken from exhibition halls and placed in museum storage.

Demonstrations remained peaceful for much of the weekend, with at least 800 people attending over two days. In the late afternoon, the National Anti-Riot Unit (Unadi) intervened using water tankers and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

“This just happened today during the protest at the National Museum: a completely peaceful and artistic demonstration to which the Esmad arrived accompanied by a large number of police, without the need for such a deployment being evident.”

Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara defended the police action on social media. Human rights organizations, however, denounced what they described as excessive use of force.

The Ombudsman's office, led by Iris María, had previously questioned what it called an excessive police presence at the cultural venue. Social media posts also claimed authorities destroyed an alternative exhibition mounted with the removed works.