A university professor and students confronted protesters to prevent intimidation and damage on campus.
Bucaramanga, Colombia – A professor and students at the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) intervened Tuesday, March 3, to prevent a group of masked individuals from intimidating classmates and causing damage on campus. The incident highlights growing tensions surrounding ongoing protests at the university.
Videos circulating on social media show the masked individuals entering classrooms with the apparent intent to disrupt classes and intimidate those inside. A professor from the Faculty of Sciences reportedly blocked their entry and confronted them directly.
“I already told you we are leaving, you can’t come in here and disrespect the classroom like this,” the professor can be heard saying in the footage, as the masked individuals attempted to push past him.
Students too intervened, defending campus property and confronting the masked protesters. “We stayed to protect things,” one student was heard saying in a video, referring to spaces on campus.
During the protests, authorities reported the use of potato bombs and vandalism, including graffiti on recently renovated areas of the university. The protests were reportedly held to commemorate the discovery of the remains of Camilo Torres Restrepo, International Women’s Day, and to express discontent over pending reforms in Congress.
