[13] In April 2021, President Iván Duque proposed increased taxes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia was beginning to worsen as various healthcare systems were failing throughout the country.

[12] The tax reform was also devised to reduce Colombia's increasing fiscal deficit, which had resulted in international credit rating agencies downgrading the Colombian government's bonds thus raising the cost of borrowing.

[15] Ingreso Solidario, a universal basic income social program introduced by the Duque government during the pandemic,[9] had already provided at the time thirteen monthly payments of around US$43 to low-income populations since April 2020.

[9] According to Merike Blofield, director of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies' Latin American division, "Compared to other countries in the region, the coverage that Ingreso Solidario offers is extremely weak [...].

Plans to privatize Colombia's health care system amid the pandemic, as well as the hasty method used to file the bill through a special committee in the House of Representatives that did not require congressional debate, also fueled discontent among Colombians.

[14] Protests would continue throughout Colombia on 30 April, especially in Cali, Bogotá, Pereira, Ibagué, and Medellín, with some demonstrations occurring in other smaller cities as well.

[32] The National Strike Committee announced on 3 May that another day of protests would be held on 5 May, criticizing the Duque government for not convening with groups to make negotiations.

[18] During the first week of May, hundreds of university students turned off their webcams during virtual classes and shared posts online in solidarity with the strike.

[33] Vice President Ramírez would also release a statement saying that the protests were "perfectly planned, financed and executed" by Venezuela, stating that Maduro was attempting to install an allied government.

[33] Later in the day, protesters attempted to storm the Capitolio Nacional in Plaza Bolívar, Bogotá while some legislative sessions were occurring and were dispersed by authorities.

[38] The attack resulted in thirty-six people injured, with the United States embassy in Bogota reporting that U.S. troops present experienced insignificant injuries.

[46] During the night and early morning of 3 May, in the city of Cali, 5 people died and 33 were injured due to clashes between protesters and the police and ESMAD.

Some videos show student Lucas Villa protesting that same day in the morning, shouting "they are killing us", a phrase popularized in the demonstrations.

[52][58] The Secretary of Government of Pereira, Álvaro Arias Vélez, offered a reward of up to 50 million pesos for those who give information to the authorities that allow them to find those responsible for the attack.

[citation needed] Influencer Elizabeth Loaiza received harsh criticism for posting a video calling Lucas Villa a vandal.

Although she assured that she simply wanted to know the opinion of her followers, Elizabeth Loaiza received criticism from several users for sharing the audiovisual piece, which lasts almost a minute.

I am the one they caught, at no time do they see me throwing stones, I was not going with them, I was heading towards the house of a friend who would let me stay at his house, when I least thought they were on top, I didn't even run because it was worse, the only thing I did was hide behind a wall, and just because I was recording they grabbed me, in the middle of that they lowered my pants and they groped me to the soul, in the video it is clear that I told them to let go of me because they were "undressing" me by taking off my pants.

[citation needed] The commander of the Police of the Suroccidente regional, Ricardo Alarcón, went ahead to deny the facts and classify the evidence as "false, vile and mean news.

"[72] Days later, the Prosecutor's Office pointed out that the adolescent "was accompanied by a human rights defender" within the URI and that for that reason no sexual abuse was configured[clarification needed] in that place.

[73] However, an investigation will continue to be made as to whether, with her conduct, the officers who detained her incurred other crimes such as excessive public force and abusive sexual acts.

According to the woman, the attack occurred on April 29, when the second day of demonstrations against the Duque government's failed tax reform took place in Cali.

The uniformed woman reports that she arrived at her turn at 2:00 a.m. and her mission was to guard one of the epicenters of the protest in the capital of the Valley: Puerto Resistencia.

The woman assures that the demonstrations became so violent that a large group of civilians tried to enter the nearest CAI, after she protected herself from a constant attack with stones.

[27] The violent response of authorities towards protesters promoted even more demonstrations, with groups saying that police are using their position to attack civilians.

[28] José Miguel Vivanco, head of Human Rights Watch Americas, criticized Colombian authorities, saying "there are structural problems of militarization of the Police, and lack of controls and supervision.

[87] On 30 April, the day President Duque announced changes to the tax reform, in its last broadcast of the evening news, Noticias RCN showed some videos of protesters in the streets of Cali, while a journalist said: "With harangues and singing the anthem of Colombia and the city at different points, [the Caleños] celebrated [Duque's] announcement".

[88][89] Some media, such as Colombia Check and La Silla Vacía, verified that the information was incorrect: the RCN newscast had taken the images out of context and adapted them to a headline that did not correspond to what happened in the place.

In addition, the actresses Lina Tejeiro and Esperanza Gómez, the comedian Alejandro Riaño, the actor Julián Román, the singers Adriana Lucía, Mario Muñoz, Karol G and other influencers such as Luna Gil supported protests.

[13][99] Journalist Vicky Davila, former Bogotá mayor Enrique Peñalosa and former Colombian football player Faustino Asprilla rejected the protests.

[115] Numerous celebrities including Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Nicky Jam, Residente, Ibai Llanos, Thalía, AuronPlay, Luisito Comunica, Viola Davis, among others, have expressed their sympathy with the Colombian people and, especially, with the victims of the violence from the police.