✍🏾: @callmedr.c
Francia Marquez is set to be Colombia’s next Vice President. Marquez is clearly, making history in the year of 2022 as the country’s first #Black#VicePresident.
So, it could be assumed, many of us didn’t know, Gustavo Petro is a former leftist rebel – that in itself is a feat, as the country put their differences aside after decades of antipathy to the “leftists” and elected Petro as their new #President. Petro is set to take office August 7th of this year.
Francia Marquez is not only the new vp breaking barriers, she’s also an environmental activist from a remote village, La Toma, nestled between mountains and countryside. One of her first #organized campaigns was against a hydroelectric project; she later went head to head with wildcat gold miners who were, you guessed it, INVADING #AFROCOLOMBIAN land that was collectively owned.
Marquez has risen “…as a powerful spokeswoman for Black Colombians and other marginalized communities” says VOA News. Keep in mind, racism is still alive and bull headed in Colombia, like many other places.
Since April, she has received more than 1,000 racist comments and messages in the media and social media, according to the Racial Discrimination Observatory at Los Andes University
“We’ve taken a very important step, after 214 years we’ve achieved a government of the people … of those with calloused hands, of those on foot, of the nobodies,” said Marquez, 40, during Sunday night’s victory speech alongside her running mate.
We are so excited to see this in real time and pray nothing but abundance, restoration of guaranteed rights to excluded and marginalized territories, and safety as Marquez and Petro embark on this new journey. #BWLMđź’•
