Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a crowd gathered outside Colombia’s National Museum in Bogota, authorities and witnesses reported. The demonstration focused on concerns that actions by the government are contributing to the erasure or revision of aspects of the country’s past, according to protesters at the scene.
Those taking part in the protest accused the administration of sidelining or eliminating historical narratives they consider important, and gathered outside the museum to draw attention to their claims. Organisers and demonstrators said the site was chosen as a symbolic location to highlight what they describe as threats to cultural memory.
Security forces responded to the demonstration with crowd-control measures, including the use of tear gas and water cannon to disperse participants. Officials have not issued a detailed public account of the reasons for deploying those tactics or of any subsequent actions by the authorities.
The events outside the National Museum underline growing tensions around how history and cultural heritage are represented and preserved in public life. Observers say disputes over museums, monuments and curricula can become focal points for wider political and social debates, and the incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of government policy on historical memory and cultural institutions.