 |
| Hooded Anarchist Kicks Police (Photo: Hugo Cruz) Photo Gallery, from Aristegui Noticias, has more photos. |
Proceso: Editors
Mexico City - Suspected anarchist groups returned to star in a violent episode in this city on the 42nd anniversary of the Halconazo [violent crackdown against students by government using elite military unit called Los Halcones (The Hawks)]. At the end of the fighting, 22 were detained and five officers had been injured.
At night, Jesus Rodríguez Almeida, Secretary of Public Security [SSP] for the Federal District [Mexico City], confirmed that 19 men and three women had been detained, including a minor. All were arrested after confronting the riot police.
At a press conference, Rodríguez Almeida stated that the minor was identified as Luis Ángel; other detainees include Carlos Esteban Jiménez, Éder Mancera Villar, Jacob Rodríguez Lora, Amadeus Navarrete Mariscal, Érick Navarro Estrada, Jesús Daniel Navarrete Bejarano, Jorge Velázquez, Juan Martín, Eréndira Ferreira, Diego Mora, Raúl Antonio González Hernández, Juan Esteban Barrera Martínez, Jesús Briseño, Sergio Abraham Méndez, Nancy Cornejo Álvarez, Édgar Gonzalo Arredondo, Luna Flores and Alejandro Osorio Cruz.
According to Rodríguez Almeida, the detainees are part of groups calling themselves anarchists, who threw all kinds of projectiles against the police as part of the mobilization to commemorate the 1971 repression.
The march, which was led by members of Committee 68, had occurred without incident until a group of at least 60 anarchists, the majority with their faces covered, threw objects against the riot police guarding buildings on May 5 Street in the Historic Center.
MV Note: Committee 68 is a longstanding student group honoring violent student repression at Tlatelolco in 1968 by the government, just before the opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City.
The standoff began at about 6:30 PM when the vanguard of the march entered the Zócalo [Mexico City's central, official ceremonial plaza]. Armed with pipes, sticks, stones, chains and even urban furniture and at least two Molotov cocktails, the youths attacked the riot police. Protected with their shields, the riot police responded by also throwing some objects.
The dispute spread across one end of the Zócalo, such that from the organizers' bullhorn a call was issued not to succumb to provocations. However, some of the youths reported that the police presence near them implied an act of provocation.
The groups of anarchists, who also participated in the violent events of December 1, 2012 (when Enrique Peña Nieto was sworn in as president), and in the seizure of the building of the Rectory [Administrative] Tower at UNAM [National Autonomous University of Mexico] two months ago, also threw things at photographers and cameramen who were recording and photographing them. They even stripped some of their equipment.
The situation deteriorated even further when the police began to arrest some of the marchers. About 22 demonstrators were taken to Agency 50 of the Public Ministry [investigative police and prosecutors].
The situation deteriorated even further when the police began to arrest some of the marchers. About 22 demonstrators were taken to Agency 50 of the Public Ministry [investigative police and prosecutors].
Meanwhile, the youths retained Pedro Bello Aguilar, director of Citizen Attention and Political Coordination of Federal District [Mexico City] Government, in order to demand the release of their arrested comrades.
In support of the riot police, units of the Rescue Squad and Emergency Medicine arrived and treated people who were beaten.
In support of the riot police, units of the Rescue Squad and Emergency Medicine arrived and treated people who were beaten.
The SSP reported that the group of anarchists were the last to join the march for the Halconazo, which started at the Casco of Santo Tomás and the Teachers Normal School (ENM) and went to the Zócalo.
On the route to the center of the city, at the intersection with San Cosme, the anarchists stormed a convenience store. They also painted graffiti and broke windows at the headquarters of the Mexico City PRI [Party of the Institutional Revolution], which is located on Alvarado Bridge Avenue, and at several shops.
The march--which demanded justice and punishment for those responsible for student repression of June 10, 1971, during the presidency of Luis Echeverría--also included members of the #YoSoy132 movement, Polytechnic Student Coordinating Committee, the General Coordinating Committee of the CCH [College of Science and Humanities] and other institutions of higher education.
The march--which demanded justice and punishment for those responsible for student repression of June 10, 1971, during the presidency of Luis Echeverría--also included members of the #YoSoy132 movement, Polytechnic Student Coordinating Committee, the General Coordinating Committee of the CCH [College of Science and Humanities] and other institutions of higher education.
Also participating were contingents from the Until We Find Them Committee, the National Front for the Struggle for Socialism, and the Student Council of Struggle of the UACM [National Autonomous of the City of Mexico], which demanded that the provision of education, scientific, humanistic and public education be guaranteed, and they expressed their rejection of the labor and education reforms, and the criminalization of youth and social protest.
Additionally, they demanded repeal of the modifications to the curriculum of the CCH, the live presentation of the disappeared, and the immediate release of political prisoners in the country. Spanish original