In a tweet, President Gustavo Petro defended the first lady, Verónica Alcocer, for the visits she has made to different penitentiary centers in the country, within the framework of the social management projects that were proposed in the current administration.
Alcocer shared videos on social media of his recent tours of the Barranquilla Medium Security Prison and the Bogotá Prison and Penitentiary Complex, where he saw handicrafts made by inmates.
"I believe in the power of resocialization and second chances. It's not a political act, it's a gesture of humanity. The crafts and trades they do there are more than work: they are symbols of dignity," said the first lady.
Petro's tweet
The president reacted to the video and justified Alcocer's work." It's about evolving, not regressing. In prison, you don't punish, you resocialize," he said.
In that same tweet, the head of state indirectly addressed presidential candidate Vicky Dávila, who had criticized Alcocer's presence at Bogotá's La Picota.
"A woman poisoned by hatred in her heart gave away her guts, which she never knew how to give; and she considered herself facing a crime. Instead of an intellectual evolution, well, there's no way to revolution, she'd never get there; the professional hater is going to such a level of involution that even her brain is beginning to disappear," Petro commented.
Regarding his visit to Barranquilla, Alcocer said:"I toured the classrooms where 217 inmates are progressing through primary and secondary school, and 10 are pursuing university studies."
And he added: "There I reaffirmed that education opens paths to dignity and becomes a powerful tool for resocialization. You have my support, because second chances transform lives."
In addition to Petro, the first lady received the support of former foreign minister Laura Sarabia."First Lady Verónica Alcocer has toured prisons throughout the country, promoting resocialization and reminding us that in every penitentiary there are also people who deserve a second chance," said the now designated ambassador to the United Kingdom.
