McCormick quoted in Associated Press article on deadly protests in Colombia

May 10, 2021

The Associated Press

Gladys McCormick

History Department

Conflict

Latin America & the Caribbean

The Associated Press

Gladys McCormick

Deep social discontent that festered throughout the coronavirus pandemic is drawing thousands of Colombians into the streets to vent their anger at the government. But the mostly peaceful, nationwide protests have turned deadly, with at least 26 people killed and human rights groups warning of increasing abuses by security forces. Police in Colombia have been "armed to the teeth" for decades as they fought along the military against guerrillas and drug traffickers, says Gladys McCormick, Jay and Debe Moskowitz Endowed Chair in Mexico-U.S. Relations, noting that has led to a broader culture of law enforcement favoring a hard-line response. "Many of these officers kind of came of age as a result of that culture, but also they have the weaponry," McCormick says. "So, their go-to response is always to sort of like go hard line and then ask questions later." Read more in the Associated Press article, "Corruption, economic woes spark deadly protests in Colombia."