Justice for Marcela Bimonte: massive march of cyclists at the Obelisk

A week after the tragic death of Marcela Bimonte, organizations of cyclists and runners from different parts of Buenos Aires gathered at the Obelisk with the aim of demanding justice for the 62-year-old woman, who was hit by a car on the morning of January 2. The event that will take place will begin in the epicenter of the City, where all those present left for the intersection of Dorrego and Figueroa Alcorta avenues, a space where the murder of the woman occurred. Together with relatives and friends of the victim, the demand for justice will be raised and tribute will be paid to the 62-year-old cyclist under the slogan “Marcela Bimonte Presente” and an activity in conjunction with the organization Masa Crítica, where a white bicycle will be placed in her memory.

Those present spoke with different media and expressed their pain, as well as criticism of the security measures that are being carried out. “This has to mark a before and after in terms of road homicides; it has to be something very strong to put pressure on the legislators,” one of them said. Demand justice, even if he is already imprisoned. Not just because of this girl cyclist, but because of the people who were walking. There is no conscience in the street,” they said about the specific case where Marcela was hit by a red Ford Focus along with five other cyclists, being the only one to lose her life.

The case in question had as its protagonist José Carlos Olaya, who after the fatal accident, abandoned the victims at the scene and boarded a van that took him out of the place, which was later found in the Buenos Aires party of Avellaneda, where he was arrested with three accomplices. After his arrest, Olaya González was remanded in custody yesterday, but his qualification was reduced to “culpable homicide”. The other three men, who had been charged with aggravated cover-up for helping the driver escape in the van after the hit-and-run, were granted freedom with restrictive measures.

Original source in Spanish