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El Ciudadano

Original article: Juventud se toma las calles por Iván Cepeda: “Nos la jugamos por la vida”

Thousands of young people flooded the streets of Bogotá to support the Presidential candidate of the Historical Pact and the Alliance for Life, Iván Cepeda Castro, as the second round of elections approaches on June 21.

During the massive mobilization, Cepeda outlined key proposals from his campaign focused on the youth, aimed at expanding opportunities for new generations in the South American nation. He reaffirmed his commitment to full equality of rights for women, the protection of animals, and a firm rejection of fracking, while urging the public to maintain a peaceful mobilization with the message: “We stand for life!”

The candidate began his speech with an emotional expression of gratitude: “Thank you, immense gratitude to the Colombian youth and to the youth of Bogotá during the most challenging moments for this country.”

The senator recalled how young people “stood bravely, facing the challenges” during the struggles for the 1991 Constitution, the defense of the peace agreement following the 2016 plebiscite, and protests against the food tax imposed by Iván Duque’s government.

“When we saw so many friends dying in the hospital, when the Uribe government minister imposed a tax on food, who was there? ¡The youth!” he exclaimed to a crowd that wholeheartedly chanted, “We live it, we feel it, Cepeda for president.”

In the event, he addressed his opponent in the runoff, the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, and asked: What does Mr. de la Espriella offer to the youth?

“Ending peaceful protests, building prisons to torture youth, eliminating the minimum wage for SENA apprentices, closing the Ministry of Education, and destroying public education in impoverished neighborhoods. We will say ‘no’ to that at the polls on June 21,” he declared, prompting a thunderous ovation.

“Without Youth, There Is No Future for the Nation”

Confronting that threat, the Historical Pact candidate committed to continuing 107 ongoing projects to ensure public higher education and secure the future for Colombia’s new generations.

Specifically, he proposed the establishment of universities in rural areas and peripheries of major cities—with a model project in Suba—maintaining the salary for SENA apprentices, providing accessible housing loans for young people, implementing a “youth rent” for dignified studies, and guaranteeing comprehensive welfare in universities.

“We will have much more for those living in poverty, in misery, and in exclusion, who have the right to higher education like all other youth in the country,” he stated.

“Without youth, there is no future for the nation. We want the youth to have a future; because if they do not have one, the nation will not have a future. Without its youth, Colombia cannot be a dignified, democratic, equitable, and just nation,” emphasized the presidential candidate.

“I Stand for Life on June 21”

Addressing especially women and environmental defenders, Cepeda stated: “I see many young women here. We want full equality of rights.”

He also acknowledged the animal rights advocates present: “We do not want to see the destruction of the land and water sources. Protecting nature is protecting life.”

Cepeda concluded with a call to territorial action: “We need to go through every block, every street, every house, explaining why the social change must continue so that we can progress as a society towards equity; that’s why you have said it, we stand for life. I stand for life on June 21.”

La entrada Youth Take to the Streets for Iván Cepeda: “We Stand for Life” se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.