World News

Colombian president removes National Museum exhibits he calls communist, sparking protests

President Abelardo de la Espriella says the removals are part of a cultural counterrevolution, drawing protests in Bogotá.

Updated Oct 22, 2026 · 02:18 UTC2 reports

The short version

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella says he is leading a cultural counterrevolution that has removed dozens of National Museum exhibits.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
He says he aims to keep cultural institutions from being taken over by what he describes as atheist social communism.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
The removed exhibits covered social movements, feminist and LGBTQ+ activism, and Colombia's political violence; dozens protested in Bogotá.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
Culture Minister Paola Holguín says other museums her ministry oversees are being reviewed, and the Foreign Ministry renamed a courtyard formerly honoring an Indigenous leader. The scope and timeline of these reviews remain unclear.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella says he is leading a cultural counterrevolution that includes removing dozens of National Museum exhibits.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
De la Espriella, a conservative Trump ally, says he wants to prevent cultural institutions from being taken over by what he calls atheist social communism.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
The removed exhibits addressed social movements, including feminist and LGBTQ+ activism, and Colombia's political violence.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the National Museum in Bogotá on Wednesday as riot police guarded the entrance.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
Culture Minister Paola Holguín said the government is reviewing and redesigning exhibitions and curatorial practices at other museums overseen by her ministry.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
The Foreign Ministry renamed a courtyard that previously honored an Indigenous leader, describing the change as part of the campaign against woke ideology.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

The reporting gives no exact count of removed exhibits, saying only dozens were taken down.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]
The review of other museums is described as ongoing, and no timeline or full scope has been reported.[Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.