Blocked Again

On Thursday of this past week, I was tired of sitting in the apartment.  So, even though the forecast called for more rain, I went out.  There was a special exhibition at the San Carlos Art Museum that sounded interesting.  The Metrobus that runs the length of Insurgentes Avenue would take me within a few blocks of the museum.  When I got to the Metrobus stop near the apartment I saw that once again the northbound buses were only going as far as the roundabout known as the Glorieta de Insurgentes.  "Oh, no," I thought.  "Another demonstration blocking the avenue."  (You may remember that about a month ago protesting teachers were setting up blockades along major arteries of the city.)

I momentarily thought about just going back to the apartment, but I got on the bus and went as far as it would take me.  I then set out to walk the rest of the way.  I eventual saw where the avenue was blocked next to the Reforma bus stop.

I managed to get close enough to read their signs and figure out who they are and why they were protesting.

They are the public defenders, lawyers who defend those who cannot afford counsel.  All of the public defenders in Mexico City are on strike.

Signs hung over the street listed their grievances.

An end to labor harassment, we demand respect for our labor rights.

Lack of materials

Salary increase

Retroactive pay

Enough of threats

We demand dignified treatment.

Their complaints may be very justified.  However, they are not going to get public opinion on their side by disrupting traffic.

By the time I left the museum, the protestors were gone, and I was able to ride the bus the full distance.