On April 8, 2022, the National University of Medellin was evacuated after hooded protesters entered the campus and discharged explosives. No injuries were reported. According to reports, the protesters were members of a group known as the Popular Revolutionary Movement. The protest was reportedly intended as a protest against the “violent excesses of the ruling classes.”

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violence on a university campus as part of a protest. Protesters have an obligation to engage in public expression in a nonviolent and responsible manner. In addition to endangering members of the higher education community, violent and destructive acts on campus erode academic freedom and university autonomy more generally.

Sources:

https://www.infobae.com/fr/2022/04/08/ils-ordonnent-levacuation-de-luniversite-nationale-de-medellin-en-raison-de-la-presence-dhommes-cagoules/ 

https://www.rcnradio.com/colombia/antioquia/evacuan-la-universidad-nacional-de-medellin-por-presencia-de-encapuchados 

*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)