Mexico´s Dissident Teachers Block City Plazas, Stores and Main Highways in Seven States

Teachers demonstrate at the Morelia International Film Festival
Photo: Cuartoscuro

Milenio: Teachers of the National Coordinating Committtee of Education Workers (CNTE) marched, blocked malls, took over city halls and closed highways in seven states in the country to protest the education reform.

In Mexico City, for six hours, members blocked access to the Walmart on Insurgentes and  Buenavista Avenues.

"The closing of stores is because they have been exploiting the people," argued Genaro Santillan, a member of the Political Commission of the CNTE.

Teachers arrived at the supermarket at 10 AM. An hour later the store did not allow the entry of more customers and those inside left by the employee entrance.

"I can't do anything, I can't carry my stuff, I need a cart, a taxi, and they aren't coming here. I'm on company time (...) It's okay for them to make demonstrations, but where they don't affect the people," said Gustavo, a client of supermarket.

For Samantha, a sales promoter, the teachers

"came around ruining the day, the sales; I work on commission and if there are no customers, what will I do" she asked.

In Michoacan, teachers demonstrated in city plazas in 21 of the 22 school regions of the state; protested at Aurrera [a Walmart chain], Sam's Club, Sorianas [a Mexican superstore chain] and Walmart, among others. In Morelia [state capital], protesters were scheduled to demonstrate peacefully at the red carpet opening of the International Film Festival. However, before appearing in the Plaza Morelia complex, they painted graffitti at the offices of the festival.

In Chiapas, teachers blocked the main entrances to Tuxtla Gutierrez [state capital] and closed highways at 10 points, including one that connects Mexico with Guatemala. In the town of Frontera Comalapa, teachers, parents and members of peasant organizations "looted" the municipal offices and burned official documents, the mayor, Carlos Ramirez Aguilar, complained.

In Veracruz, leaders of the Oaxaca and Michoacan sections of CNTE warned that striking a blow to private businesses was the only way to get the federal government to give in to their demands. Yesterday, in support of their colleagues in metropolitan Veracruz-Boca del Rio, they marched through the streets of the port. Led by General Secretary of Section 22 [of Oaxaca], Ruben Nunez, the teachers caused traffic chaos, holding demonstrations at three different points.

Juan Jose Ortega Madrigal, leader of section 18 [Michoacan], announced that

"the negotiations and the chats over coffee are over, and a more aggressive campaign is beginning."

The only way, he said, is to "hit" private businesses until the businessmen pressure President Enrique Peña Nieto to throw out the educational reform.

In Zacatecas, demonstrations began at 6:00 AM. Meanwhile in Tijuana, Baja California, teachers blocked access to the state education system to demand that the state government commit to not implementing the reform until it is revised by teachers and parents.

In Oaxaca City, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM yesterday, teachers blocked national and international stores. Spanish original