Colombians take to the streets in FARC protest

Started by a handful of Colombian students on Facebook, the idea for a mass demonstration against the armed rebel group FARC rapidly spiralled. Hundreds of thousands of supporters, some reports say a million, took to the streets of Colombia and throughout the world. The main event was held in the capital Bogota, while many other cities held smaller gatherings. 

The massive response shows how united the Colombian population is against the violence and kidnappings of this terrorist group who have been waging their war on the government for over 40 years. 

Parallel demonstrations were held in Paris, London, Tokyo and many more cities across the globe. 

Demonstrators, demanding peace and an end to the violence, held banners reading, 

No more FARC

No more deaths

No more kidnappings

The mass protest was encouraged by the media, local government and businesses who gave employees the day off. Schools were also closed. 

The FARC protest was a non-political, peaceful demonstration, with all the political parties present. 

Clara Rojas, recently freed after 6 years in captivity at the hands of FARC, commented: “I am happy that the Colombian people have understood that they play an important role in the situation that this country is going through in trying to attain liberty.” 

FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) still holds hundreds of people prisoner in the jungles of Colombia.