The Streets Speak: Colombian Graffiti Artists Have their Say

A photo essay of recent political graffiti from the streets of Bogotá provides creative commentary on militarism, US military bases, President Álvaro Uribe and extrajudicial military killings.

Recent political graffiti from the streets of Bogotá provides creative commentary on militarism, US military bases, President Álvaro Uribe and extrajudicial military killings. 

1, 2, 3 – Uribe – What’s behind the FALSE POSITIVES

This message, written in the form of a chant,  refers to a recent scandal over the Colombian Army’s practice of  extrajudicially killing civilians, whose bodies are then dressed as guerrilla fighters (now called ‘False Positives’) in order to fabricate combat reports and results, leading to monetary and vacation rewards, as well as the promotion of army officers.

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YANKEES GET OUT of Colombia and the World – Anti-imperialist Brigade  

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Don’t Re-elect the Killer Rat

This slogan is a play on words using a November 2008 governmental radio Advertisement created by the Dirección Nacional de Estupefacientes called "la mata que mata" [The plant that kills], in which the voice of a little girl encourages listeners not to cultivate or consume drugs. The slogan was quickly transformed into "la rata que mata" [the rat that kills], as a reference  to President Alvaro Uribe. 

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Falling is permitted. Rising up is obligatory.

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Tic-Tac-Toe with Machine Guns and Targets: "Nobody Wins"

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For sovereignty and dignity – no gringo bases.

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No to Uribe the Third.

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