- Title: Colombian artists band with protesters in call for change
- Date: 23rd December 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF ARTISTS ON STAGE AT EVENT TO ADDRESS AUDIENCE (NOT A SOUNDBITE) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SINGER AND EVENT ORGANISER, ADRIANA LUCIA, SAYING: "He (President Ivan Duque) is a young president, he should be in sync with the street and with musicians. But the President is not in sync with musicians. He needs to understand that the streets are not just full because of the strike committee. Those issues that are being demanded of the President are not written on paper. If we had to write down the reasons (for striking) well it wouldn't fit in a book because Colombia has a social debt that has been accumulating for 50 years." PERFORMERS ON STAGE AT EVENT VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE AT EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PLASTIC ARTIST, GIOVANNI HENAO, SAYING: "More than music, more than culture, more than fun, it is strength, a strength because we need to think critically about what is happening in the country because whilst we get annoyed about things, those who are protesting are not allowing it to happen and that is uniting us and it is building momentum."
- Embargoed: 6th January 2020 01:42
- Keywords: Colombia Medellin President Ivan Duque artists change government performers strike
- Location: MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
- City: MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA003BB7437R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombian artists banded together in Medellin on Sunday (December 21) for a concert to rally protesters calling for socio-economic change in the country.
Public anger has spilled onto the streets for weeks now amidst rumoured economic reform plans that critics argue give businesses too many tax breaks.
This Medellin concert was the latest demonstration in weeks of protests, which has drawn hundreds of thousands of marchers and put pressure on Duque's proposed tax reform, which lowers duties on businesses.
Duque has announced a "great national dialogue" on social issues, but government efforts to stop demonstrations had failed. And these performers want to use their platform of art to further push the popular message to the government.
Protest leaders presented 13 demands on a wide range of issues, including actions to curb the murders of social activists, the implementation of the peace agreement with the demobilised FARC guerrillas and the dissolution of a police riot squad, who are accused of violence against protesters.
(Production: Herbert Villarraga) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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