Protests in Mexico Increase After Death of Students

December 22, 2011 in México, The World Today

Students in Puebla outraged by the killings. Courtesy of La Jornada.

By Michelle Moraila

Nearly two weeks after policemen gunned down two students of the Normal School of Ayotzinapa in Guerrero during a protest the Mexican government has finally decided to investigate the event and answer why the victims were attacked. The group of students gathered by blocking the famous “Autopista del Sol,” the liaison between Acapulco and Mexico City, to seek a raise in funds, enrollment, and a different head of schools. At least 200 local and federal officials arrived at the scene to break up the protest, detaining twenty and shooting nine people.

Though at first the Federal Police denied being involved in the shooting, eyewitness accounts that claimed otherwise created more protests and sparked harsh criticism towards Guerrero governor Angel Aguirre Rivero. Human rights activists were also outraged at this clear violation of freedom of expression and immediately contacted the United Nations. This prompted the government to finally take action and attempt to restore stability in the state.

The delay has only angered citizens and added more reasons to be skeptical about the government’s true intentions. Students all over the country holding up banners that read messages such as “Why are we being silenced?” marched to demonstrate their anger, while more than 1,500 people gathered in front of Congress asking for justice. It is unclear as to why the Federal Police got involved and used weapons to fight what was their way to express their desire for change in the school system. The detainees have now been released, but the fact that they were arrested indicates a violation of rights and a need for the government to intervene in what the Federal Police is doing. While it is true that they are taking a step towards getting to the bottom of this, it is evident that the government lacked initiative when it came to restoring the protestors’ rights. The only way they will be able to fully restore stability is if they actually listen to the students and accept the fact that they treated them as criminals when they were only exercising their right to speak up.