Revolution Day

One hundred four years ago, on November 20, 1910, the Mexican Revolution began. 

Today Mexico City saw massive demonstrations protesting the missing 43 students and corruption in the Mexican government.  Thousands of people gathered around 5:00 P.M. at three locations in the heart of the city... at the Independence Monument along the Paseo de la Reforma (one of the city's major boulevards), at the Revolution Monument, and at the Plaza of the Three Cultures (the site where in 1968 the government killed hundreds of student protestors).  The demonstrators marched and converged at the Zócalo, the vast main plaza of the city.  

Earlier in the day there was violence when hundreds of students blocked the highway leading to the airport.  The police threw tear gas at the students, and some responded by throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at the police.  The main protest this evening, however, appears to be peaceful.  The marchers are primarily students and union members.  However they have been joined by professors, Catholic groups, businessmen leaving their offices along the Paseo de la Reforma, families with children, and even senior citizens.

Protests were also held in cities throughout Mexico.  Rallies were held in Latin America, Europe, Asia and even the United States.  

 


(images from the web)

 

 

The protestors chanted "Vivos los queremos" ... Want them alive... and "Fuera EPN"... Out (President) Enrique Peña Nieto. 

 

Unfortunately I think it is extremely unlikely that the 43 students are alive after all this time.  There is some talk that the students are being held somewhere, and that the army will eventually "find" and "rescue" them, and that Peña Nieto then can claim to be a "hero".  But in my opinion, that is simply a mixture of conspiracy theory and wishful thinking. 

 

In all fairness, corruption in Mexico extends far beyond Peña Nieto and his political party.  After all, the mayor who is allegedly responsible for the students' disappearance is a member of the leftist party.  And there are despicable far-right members of the conservative party who wish that these protestors would be exterminated as they were in 1968.

 

In spite of what is going on, I have no fear of returning to Mexico in January.  I certainly will stay away from any protest marches, but I see no danger to visitors to the country.  Barring any cataclysmic events, there is no need to cancel travel plans.

 

I love Mexico, but I grieve for her.  Corruption is nothing new, and is not unique to Mexico.  It is quite likely that, after the protests die down, nothing will really change.  But I keep my fingers crossed that the "missing 43" will spark some positive, peaceful reforms.