“ Captain Colombia ”, the mysterious frontline man who has become an icon of protest

The frontline is a group that, at the forefront of improvised helmets, masks and shields, confront the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) when, in the midst of the protests, the hour of gas and dizziness begins.

There are many photographs, stories and characters that play into the shocking images of the most distressing moments that are presented amid the interventions police have made in the protests, which have already ended 23 days since the declaration of the national strike on February 28, April.

Well, one of the characters that has garnered a lot of attention and even become a trending on Twitter in recent days is the one called ‘Captain Colombia’, a frontline member whose identity is so far unknown, something that is better so for many on the social network for security reasons.

And it is that the sculptural and muscular body, which marries its tricolor shield and its protective elements, allowed it to social mediaBy now, most Internet users know who we are talking about when we talk about “Captain Colombia”.

Even the photographs of the mysterious man have been commented on by fans across the country, who create stories and flatter this “fighter” of the protests in Colombia.

“This man shoots tear gas with deodorant”, “This guy doesn’t cry because of the tear gas, the tear gas is crying for him”, “This vandal just made a huge mess in my heart”, “They say that ‘he chews pomegranates and spits out shards “These are some of the creative comments surrounding the image of “Captain Colombia” on Twitter these days.

The platform Change.org, through which citizens around the world can conduct social activism, make proposals and make demands on specific issues, launched #CambiemosColombia, an application accessible to all those who wish to promote a change in the country within the framework of the national strike which takes place since April 28.

Simultaneously with the launch, Change.org published the seven most viral petitions during the strike and explained how digital mobilization goes hand in hand with that carried out in the streets and, together, they can represent concrete changes. For example, a button: that health care reform was sunk in Congress and tax reform was withdrawn by the national government is due, to some extent, to how the two types of protests were completed.

Marcela Almeida, The platform’s campaign coordinator in the country pointed out in this media that last Friday they had sent an email to the High Commissioner for Peace Miguel Ceballos placeholder image, “Accept a meeting with the aim of presenting the seven viral campaigns within the framework of the strike and that they could respond to approximately one million citizens. We want to suggest that the government meet with them. So far, we have not had an answer ”.

Likewise, Almeida called on Colombians to “not only complain, but to propose. That we take advantage of virtual mobilization spaces and exercise the right to propose to change community, city or country ”.

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