In late 2023, Panamanians shut down their country for months to demand the closure of a Canadian copper mine. And they won. It was not just a protest against a foreign company. It was about the country’s sovereignty after a century of US occupation and invasions. 

The US occupation of Panama is not ancient history, here. It is still in the forefront of everyone’s mind. So are the decades of blood, sweat, and tears that it took to finally win back the region of the Panama Canal from the United States in 1999.

And Panamanians are not going back there again. Not at the hands of a Canadian copper mine. And certainly not at the order of Donald Trump.

Michael Fox reported from the ground in Panama throughout the months-long protests. You can see his reporting for The Real News here. You can see his pictures of the protests, here on his Patreon, where you can also support his work: www.patreon.com/mfox.

This is episode 12 of Stories of Resistance — a new podcast co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Each week, we’ll bring you stories of resistance like this. Inspiration for dark times.

Written and produced by Michael Fox.

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