On July 20, 2021, Perry Center Professor Celina Realuyo spoke at the Heritage Foundation on “Why Colombia’s Violent Protests Matter to the United States” alongside Joseph Humire, Executive Director of the Center for a Secure Free Society and hosted by Heritage Foundation Research Fellow For Economic Freedom and Growth James Roberts. They discussed the drivers of the social protests in Colombia like long-standing economic, social and political grievances and how the pandemic, organized agitators, social media and misinformation campaigns have magnified social unrest compared to previous protests. They also described the close partnership between the US and Colombia on democracy, prosperity and security issues and the important role Colombia plays in the Americas.