Colombian president launches counter-cultural campaign, removing exhibits from the National Museum deemed promoting 'moral relativism' and 'wokism'.
President launches counter-cultural campaign
Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella has begun a campaign targeting what he calls a "counter-cultural revolution," following his efforts to manage the aftermath of a major earthquake and a military offensive against armed groups. Art removed from national museum
On October 15, 2026, a dozen items were removed from the National Museum in Bogota, accused of promoting terrorism or advocating "moral relativism." The items were part of the exhibition "Making Society." President criticizes 'wokism' in public speech
During a speech, de la Espriella vowed an "open, resolute, and patriotic fight against wokism," claiming it undermines Western moral foundations, according to the newspaper El Espectador. Removed works focus on peace and social issues
The removed items included posters, photos, and objects that highlighted the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla, feminist and LGBTQI struggles, and the assassinations of two presidential candidates in 1990. Minister of Culture ordered removals
According to journalist Ana Bejarano, the Minister of Culture, Paola Holguín, ordered the removal of the works "in accordance with the ideological orientation of the government," as reported by Cambio. Public backlash and protests occur
The decision sparked backlash in progressive media and led to demonstrations outside the museum, which were met with harsh police repression over the weekend. Minister defends removals as necessary
Paola Holguín criticized the protests, accusing participants of using culture to "deconstruct history, apologize for crime, and 're-victimization' of victims," as reported by El Espectador. Opposition calls it an attempt at censorship
Deputy Jennifer Pedraza responded that the removals appear to be an attempt at censorship to prevent different versions of history from being told, according to the same article. Government seeks to erase 'peasant' from dictionary
In a related move, the government has reportedly proposed removing the word "peasant" from the dictionary, signaling a broader effort to reshape historical and cultural narratives. Extrajudicial executions resurface
The murder of Ricardo Martínez has reignited concerns about the return of extrajudicial executions, a practice long associated with Colombia's violent past.
