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| Riot police on Carrera Septima, by the Parque Nacional, with marijuana marchers in the background. |
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| The marijuana march was massive. |
Today's marijuana legalization march brought out thousands of people, mostly young, who marched down Carrera Septima and ended up on the Plaza del Periodista - until the cops swept in and drove them out.
It was a bit of a surreal scene. An anti-riot police tank arrived and proceeded to make a long speech - in English - advertising the speaker system's capacities. Then, they gave the
marijuaneros ten minutes to clear out.
'This march has been carried out without incident so far,' said the loudspeaker.
One group held a '
Yes to the personal dosis' banner in front of the tank, to no avail. Afew protesters threw bottles at the tank, and one spray painted something illegible on its side. But soon, the cops started tossing acoustic bombs and the plaza quickly emptied out.
What was the point? Why didn't they just let them stay and smoke?
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| The marijuana march ended in La Plaza del Periodista, in La Candelaria, which was packed. |
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| About 6:30 p.m. the police arrived, on foot, motorcycles and in tanks. |
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| A pot protester writes graffiti on a anti-riot tank. |
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| A 'Yes to the Personal Dose' banner confronts a tank. |
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| A photo opportunity for foreigners. |
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| The plaza cleared out quickly. I didn't smell tear gas, but the cops apparently threw sonic bombs. |
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| A line of riot police on Plaza del Periodista. |
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| The empty plaza, crowded just a few minutes before. |
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| Yet more cops come motoring in. |
By Mike Ceaser, of
Bogotá Bike Tours
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