Standing Up

Over the next few days I’ll be focusing on the number of protests I came across around the world during my travels in late 2019.

One of the most troubling parts of the issue is how police in some countries interact with demonstrators. Police must protect the public and fellow officers. These two priorities often lead to an over reaction to any perceived threat.

These municipal workers in Lima, Peru were peacefully protesting for better wages and working conditions, but they were set up across from city hall. This meant the police felt they had no choice but to set up with riot gear and to block off access to the building.

You could tell by looking over the scene that neither side had any intention of causing trouble, but in situations like this things can escalate quickly and get out of control.