I had no idea when I walked out of my flat yesterday that I would be walking into a protest, the size I’d never seen before. While I’m at Colombian protests, I never really realize fully what’s going on. I try to piece together the pictures and words that are on their marching banners, but still I’m left wondering what exactly it’s all about. So I take as many pictures as I can (I wasn’t prepared with the Canon, so had my handy iPOD Touch with me) and then I go home and wait for a newsfeed to come up in English.

Turns out yesterday’s protest in Bogota was one of many throughout the country and one of many that will take place all week. Hence, the moniker: “Week of Indignation.” I wish I could articulate what these protests do for me, as I can’t really understand them as they’re taking place, yet, the spirit around them, the feeling that these people are free to voice their opinions, and that the police for the most part, are prepared for them and help them (again, for the most part) march in an organized fashion, obeying traffic lights, etc. In Bogota, they aim for peaceful protests, and they are allowed to really say how they feel. So, even though I don’t understand their words to the fullest, I do understand the feeling of free human spirits bonding for causes greater than themselves. It’s so inspiring.

Needless to say, the protesters are not fans of President Santos.

Protesters on Septima crossing Calle 19 on their way to Simon Bolivar Plaza.

Judicial employees have been fighting for pay raises for most of this year. Due to all of the protestations, there’s a massive backlog of cases that are not being seen in the courts.

And these people are protesting against budget cuts to “SENA,” the government trades school.

This was a really inspirational moment. One of  the final groups to make their way to the Plaza, started jumping up and down and chanting and then they made a break for it, running and chanting all the way…

All Pictures: 30OCT12. Bogota, Colombia. (iPOD Touch, Instagram Lo-Fi, Early Bird, and Sutra Aspects)