The Diminishing Tent City

I wrote earlier that thousands of members of the militant teachers' union CNTE attempted to disrupt the opening of the World Cup in Mexico City by unsuccessfully trying to take over the Zócalo, the main plaza where the "fan zone" was to be located.  After being turned back twice by police, they set up their tent encampment on the streets of the historic center that lead to the plaza.  Last week when I read that many of the protesters had gone home, and that most, but not all, of the streets were open again, I decided to venture to the historic center and see the fan zone.

I got off at the Allende subway station, and found myself at the edge of the remaining tent city.

 Like dogs marking their territory, the protesters had left graffiti on the walls of buildings.

"No to the World Cup of plunder"

I blurred the obscenity, but you get the idea of their opinion of FIFA, the international soccer federation.  Actually, I can't argue with that.  Any organization that would invent a "peace prize" to give to the orange "pendejo" is pretty messed up.

I made it to Madero, the pedestrianized street which cuts through the "Centro Histórico" and leads directly to the Zócalo.

I read an online article from the Mexico City newspaper "La Jornada".  CNTE, which represents a minority of the nation's teachers, is to be censured for more than the disruption and vandalism that they have caused.  Their encampments have had a serious effect on the hundreds of businesses along those streets.  Merchants hoped that with the World Cup they would see an increase in sales.  Instead they have gone day after day with virtually no customers.  One said that it has been as bad as during the pandemic.  Wait staff in restaurants, who depend on tips as a large part of their income, are suffering.  

Now with many of the streets open, store owners and employees are hoping to recoup some of their losses, but those along the streets where the teachers are still encamped are despairing.

One restaurant worker said that he has nothing against teachers, but he sees those with the CNTE in a different light.  "They have no empathy for other workers."