Luke Taylor

Luke Taylor is a British journalist based in Bogotá, Colombia, where he covers politics, the peace process, and the Venezuela crisis. 

A student leans over a candle at a memorial with lots of photos and paintings

How one protester’s death by Colombian riot police polarized the movement

Dilan Cruz’s death made him a martyr in the eyes of many Colombians, reigniting mass protests just as they began to fade. But his death has also been used to politicize the moment as President Ivan Duque attempts to quell the weeks-long protests. 

How one protester’s death by Colombian riot police polarized the movement
A four-piece punk band is shown playing to a crowd and bathed in red lights.

Rage against the crisis: Venezuela's punk scene finds a new voice in Bogotá

Rage against the crisis: Venezuela's punk scene finds a new voice in Bogotá
Man stands wearing white shirt in front of a hotel.

Venezuela’s ex-military deserted Maduro hoping for a revolution. Now they’re on the brink of homelessness.

Venezuela’s ex-military deserted Maduro hoping for a revolution. Now they’re on the brink of homelessness.
Afro Colombian man wearing glasses and green jacket stands in front of a wall

Social activists risk their lives as Colombia’s peace process falters

Social activists risk their lives as Colombia’s peace process falters
Young men wearing black stand on steps and raise fists in air.

Maduro turns to violent ‘mercenary’ colectivos to maintain order

Maduro turns to violent ‘mercenary’ colectivos to maintain order
Chaos and stone throwing at the border.

Thousands mobilize, some soldiers defect, but Venezuelan aid push ends in chaos

The aid the volunteers hoped to carry over the bridges has become a flashpoint in Venezuela’s political crisis. But the humanitarian aid plan was fraught with complications from the very beginning. 

Thousands mobilize, some soldiers defect, but Venezuelan aid push ends in chaos
A large white truck with red lettering

Defiant Maduro blocks humanitarian aid at Colombian border

The first convoy of trucks carrying 50 tons of aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela arrived at the Colombian-Venezuelan border town of Cúcuta on Thursday afternoon. Their arrival comes a day after the Venezuelan military barricaded the bridge set to transport the aid.

Defiant Maduro blocks humanitarian aid at Colombian border
A busy scene at a border town in Cúcuta, Colombia.

As Venezuela’s crisis worsens, thousands more flee to neighboring Colombia seeking relief

As the economic and political crisis continues under President Nicolás Maduro, some 40,000 Venezuelans a day cross the Simón Bolívar bridge into Colombia. Some return or linger at the border. Others keep on walking.

As Venezuela’s crisis worsens, thousands more flee to neighboring Colombia seeking relief