Shocking moment Colombian cop K I C K S woman in the face
Rough justice: Cop in Colombia KICKS woman in face during anti-government protest that left three dead and almost 100 arrested
A cop in Bogota appeared in a video kicking a woman in the face Thursday after she tried to stop the police from arresting a man who had thrown an object
Officer is seen in the same footage tackling the man from behind
In a separate video, cops in Bogota beat a couple of protesters, leaving a woman face bloodied after she was kicked and hit with a nightstick
More than 250,000 people participated in peaceful protests that later turned violent Thursday in Colombia
Demonstrators gathered to express growing discontent with President Iván Duque's government
A police officer was caught on video kicking a woman in the face as hundreds of thousands participated in nationwide protests in Colombia that left at least three people dead.
A bystander at a mass demonstration in Bogota recorded the moment a man flung an object at cops as the gathering turned violent.
Soon after, one of the cops ran towards the protesters and tackled him from behind.
A second law enforcement agent followed and kicked a female protester in the face after she tried to intervene by repeatedly slapping his arm.
Thursday's marches drew more than 250,000 across several cities, and nearly 100 people were arrested.
Demonstrators gathered to express growing discontent with President Iván Duque's government, and what protesters say is a lack of official action to stop corruption and the murder of human rights activists.
A separate video captured by local resident María Luisa Rodríguez showed the shocking moment a group of cops on motorcycles and cars approach a couple and beat them on Thursday night. The couple subsequently claimed they were were just taking images outside Andes University.
A cop grabbed Cristian Angarita Lizarazo and flung him to the pavement before the Diana Rocío Pinzón Corredor tried to intervene. She was then attacked by the cops, who smashed her in the face with their nightsticks.
The cops left the scene with Angarita Lizarazo, while a bloodied Pinzón Corredor was abandoned and left lying on the ground.
Former leftist presidential candidate Gustavo Petro called for another demonstration on Friday afternoon, urging people to bang pots and pans in Bogota's central square in a traditional expression of protest known as a 'cacerolazo.'
However, his call is not supported by at least one of the major unions that organized Thursday's march.
The protest coincided with demonstrations in other Latin American countries, including anti-austerity marches in Chile, protests over vote-tampering allegations in Bolivia that led President Evo Morales to resign and inflamed tensions in crisis-hit Nicaragua.
'Today Colombians spoke and we are listening. The dialogue has been the main rally cry of this Government, which we must deepen with all sectors and accelerate the social agenda and the fight against corruption,' Duque said while addressing the nation late Thursday night.
Details surrounding the deaths in Valle del Cauca province were under investigation, Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo told journalists.
'In the last few hours authorities have confirmed the death of two people in Buenaventura in the midst of disturbances and one more in Candelaria, both municipalities of Valle,' he said, adding that a group of people had intended to loot the Viva Buenaventura mall.
'Because of this violent act, the security forces went to confront the event, while being subject to violent aggression with the throwing of rocks and sticks. As a result of the confrontation between vandals and security forces and in events that are the subject of investigation by the attorney general's office, two people were killed,' he said.
Blockades continued in four municipalities, Trujillo added.
Though the vast majority of marchers participated peacefully, 98 people were arrested, while 122 civilians and 151 members of the security forces were injured, he said.
The authorities were conducting 11 preliminary investigations into misconduct by members of the security forces, Trujillo added, after images circulated on social media showed police treating protesters roughly, including a riot officer kicking a protester in the face.
Commuters in Bogota and other cities faced long delays on Friday as authorities tried to normalize mass transit service. About two dozen of Bogota's bus stations were closed and police used tear gas in a least two parts of the city's working class south in an attempt to clear road blockades.
Bogota's mayor announced a ban on alcohol sales beginning at noon and said vandalism repairs would cost millions of dollars.
Petro's calls for a Friday protest were not supported by one union that helped lead Thursday's marches. The head of the General Work Confederacy (CGT) union on local radio warned against political 'opportunism' associated with the marches.