By Pilar Salazar Photo: Celeste Mayorga In the early hours of Sunday morning, agents of the National Civil Police raided the Casa Cuatro de Noviembre Cultural Center and used pepper spray inside its premises. The culmination of the 19th Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity Parade in Guatemala was being celebrated there. According to Gaby Dávila, the center's manager, who spoke to Presentes, the police entered the establishment without a warrant. “There were three patrol cars full of police officers who simply entered the place and sprayed pepper spray on the people inside. Four people fainted, and ten were taken to a hospital. A fourth patrol car then arrived, and we told them that what they were doing was illegal, and they immediately left.”

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Dávila stated that it was an attack, as they began throwing pepper spray from the windows of the building for no apparent reason. One of the police officers, identified as Enrique Guevara, threatened to beat and handcuff him. to the elected deputy Aldo Dávilawho was at the scene. “We called the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office, but they arrived two hours after the incident,” he stated. Henry España, head of the Office for the Defense of Sexual Diversity, told Presentes that “the Ombudsman's Office should have arrived while the National Civil Police officers were still at the scene. There is definitely a need for greater efficiency in emergency situations.”

Persecution of gay congressman Dávila

Spain added that upon arriving at the scene, the agents asked directly for Congressman Aldo Dávila, which prompted various civil society organizations to call a press conference in front of the Government Palace, where Congressman-elect Aldo Dávila was already present.

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The version of the National Civil Police, through its spokesperson Jorge Aguilar, is that they were carrying out patrols in compliance with the so-called "Dry Law" and due to complaints from residents of the Historic Center about excessive noise.

Other attacks on Pride Day

This does not appear to be an isolated incident, as while the Pride celebration was taking place at the "Porvenir de los Obreros" hall, organized by Otrans Reinas de la Noche, an unknown person threw pepper spray in one of the venue's bathrooms, according to activist Stacy Velásquez, who spoke to Presentes. Carlos Romero, representative of the National Diversity Network, stated that there has been harassment at other places frequented by LGBTQ+ people and that the authorities are using the "dry law" (alcohol ban) to repress them. Henry España indicates that there is staff on duty who go to the location if necessary. The incident is documented, and a file is opened to investigate and, if necessary, request information from the relevant institutions.