“[…] Reporters from RTVC, Juan Maza BQ, El Tiempo, Cofradía para el Cambio, Tras Este Visor and El Tamal News were victims of physical and verbal attacks, obstruction of journalistic work and threats [during protests on April 21] , which forced them to interrupt coverage to safeguard their security.
The journalists accused of being 'sell-out journalists,' 'provocators,' 'leftists,' and in some cases they were accused of manipulating information about the demonstration. Eight journalists had bottles, cans, water and other substances thrown at them while they were reporting. In a case documented in Barranquilla, photographer Vanessa Romero and presenter Deivis López, from El Tiempo, were approached by a man who tried to prevent their live broadcast. When refused, the man pushed and tore the presenter's card. Atlántico correspondent Sayni Elisa Agámez, from RTVC, experienced a similar situation when they surrounded her and a person pulled her hair and hit her on the arm. This is not the first time that an RTVC team has been attacked. In March, while covering demonstrations in Bogotá, we also reported attacks against journalists and collaborators of the media outlet.”
