Far-left activist Bibiana Marín, secretary of the radical movement Communist Youth of Colombia (JUCO), threatened the incoming government of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, vowing to turn the country into an “uninhabitable” place.
Her statements, published on social media, sparked nationwide outrage, as they were viewed as a call for violence and the destruction of public property. In an interview with the Caracol radio network, Marín denied belonging to the criminal group “Primera Línea” (Front Line), which is responsible for millions of dollars in damage to road infrastructure in cities such as Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín.
The same interview revealed that the militant holds a U.S. visa and that U.S. official Christopher Landau has stated her visa privileges will be reviewed.
Marín’s rhetoric has been characterized by radical anti-U.S. sentiment and the promotion of violent protests that have caused severe damage to transportation infrastructure and commerce, repeatedly resulting in casualties.
Marín denied the accusations, stating that her message was directed against the political agenda of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella.
Colombians both at home and abroad have expressed their outrage over the hate-promoting message and have called on the U.S. government to revoke the visas of the activist—as well as those of other individuals who promote anti-American sentiment, such as singer Karol G and actress Margarita Rosa de Francisco (the latter being based in Miami).
