This Wednesday, May 1, the country will experience a new day of demonstrations called by several unions in the country, in the midst of the commemoration of International Labor Day. Although this mobilization It has been a traditional call, President Gustavo Petro and sectors related to the Executive announced their participation to respond to the protests carried out by the opposition on April 21.
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Petro hopes to give a speech this Wednesday, focusing on his proposed call to the “constituent power” and in the future of his next months of administration on issues such as budget execution.
Why did Gustavo Petro attack Mayor Galán?
Through his ‘X’ account, the president reiterated his call to citizens to join the great joyful walk of the “people who work and study, who dream and do”. At the same time criticized the management of the Mayor’s Office for the development of the march:
“With or without a platform I will walk in the May Day march, I invite you to join me. Many times they have tried to silence me and the people. To avoid this, there are megaphones.”
Faced with this, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán assured that the platform in the Plaza de Bolívar for May 1 is guaranteed since the request made by the first USCTRAB union on April 2. In conversation with 6AM Today, He referred to President Petro’s annoyance with the local administration over the marches.
According to Galán, the Unitary Central of Workers of Colombia (CUT) also presented a request for a platform on April 18, but for safety, the recommendation is to have a single platform in the Plaza:
“The platform was authorized 28 days ago. Usually, what is done is that when there is a march and there are several organizations that call for it, then the first organization that requests authorization to install a platform is reviewed and if it obviously meets all the criteria that are in the procedure, it is granted. the permit and that was the case in this case was the USCTRAB.”
Faced with this situation, the mayor indicated that there was a principle of agreement where the CUT accepts that the first organization has priority and if there can eventually be an adjoining platform: “Tomorrow, in principle, there will be two platforms stuck together next to each other.” Unless a meeting we have today at 8 in the morning more or less agrees on a single platform, in any case there will be a platform.”
How many platforms will there be in the Plaza de Bolívar?
Thus, the District will have a new meeting in which they will try, again, reach an agreement with the unions to have a new platform: “In any case, there will be a platform and Bogotá is ready to guarantee and accompany the peaceful demonstrations this May 1”.
Galán clarified that those who will participate on stage and speak with microphones are the sole responsibility of those who will carry out the day. He added that historically the Labor Day march has always been peaceful and calm. and on the part of the union organizations there has never been any situation of violence:
“Sometimes there are actors outside the call and we are prepared. “We want to call for the protest to be carried out without affecting the rights of others.”
Concentration points in Bogotá
Some starting points in cities such as Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Cali, Medellín, among others, are already defined. These will be the meeting points in the capital of Bogotá:
- First of May Avenue with Caracas: 8:30 a.m.
- National Park: 9:00 am
- National University – Calle 26: 9:00 am
- Bogotá Planetarium: 9:00 am
