On October 14, 2022, a group of students were attacked as they engaged in a peaceful protest just outside the campus of Atlantico University.
The students had reportedly gathered to demand improvements to campus infrastructure, when a group of private citizens arrived and violently attacked them, including by throwing blunt objects at them. The motivation of the attackers is unknown; however local authorities reportedly opened an investigation into the attack.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about attacks on nonviolent student protesters. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such attacks harm academic freedom and democratic society generally. State and university authorities have an obligation to take available actions to respond to and prevent such attacks, including by conducting prompt and thorough investigations and holding perpetrators accountable.
Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://defenderlalibertad.com/denuncia-publica-por-agresiones-en-la-universidad-del-atlantico/