Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Ombudsman Intervenes as Lima Probes Forceful Removal of Blind Street Singer

City officials cite noise complaints, prompting scrutiny over treatment of people with disabilities.

Overview

  • A widely shared video shows municipal enforcement agents in central Lima forcibly removing a visually impaired young singer on Jirón de la Unión and seizing his portable speaker.
  • Bystanders recorded the incident, denounced the force used, and later pressured officials to return the performer’s speaker a few blocks away.
  • The Defensoría del Pueblo condemned the actions and announced an ex officio intervention to ensure the facts are investigated and responsibilities established.
  • Lima’s Gerencia de Fiscalización y Control said the operation aimed to clear pedestrian transit and address loud noise, and stated there was no intention to harm the performer.
  • The municipality opened an internal review to verify protocol compliance, as public calls grow for respectful, rights-based treatment of people with disabilities in public spaces.