Following President Gustavo Petro's call for nationwide demonstrations amid US accusations of drug trafficking ties after the January 3 capture of Nicolás Maduro, crowds gathered Wednesday in major city squares starting at 4:00 p.m., with Bogotá's Plaza de Bolívar filling by 6:00 p.m. Unions and officials joined, as the US Embassy issued unrest warnings.
As anticipated amid escalating US-Colombia tensions post the US 'Iron Resolve' operation capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and Donald Trump's claims that Colombia is 'very sick' under a cocaine-producing leader, President Petro's January 6 appeal on X mobilized Colombians to public squares at 4 p.m. on January 7 to defend sovereignty.
By evening, gatherings swelled in key locations: Plaza de Bolívar (Bogotá), Plaza Mayor (Medellín), Plaza de Cayzedo (Cali), Plazoleta Cívica Luis Carlos Galán (Bucaramanga), Plaza de San Pedro Claver (Cartagena), Parque de Bolívar (Santa Marta), and Barranquilla. Crowds anticipated Petro's potential appearance in Bogotá, with the presidency declaring: 'This Wednesday the people take to the streets for Colombia. We march because sovereignty is defended, because democracy is cared for and for the freedom of our nation.'
Endorsements came from the National Union of State and Public Service Workers, Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino, and federations like CUT (president Fabio Arias stressing unity against interference). Interior Minister Armando Benedetti posted crowd images on X.
The US Embassy suspended consular services from 2:00 p.m., warning of possible violence and advising citizens to avoid areas. Bogotá's Transmilenio reported disruptions, e.g., Carrera Séptima at Calle 32.
This followed a 15-minute Petro-Trump call, per the Foreign Ministry. Opposition figure Daniel Briceño criticized mobilization spending: $14.124 million this year, $61 billion since 2022.
