Thousands of Mexicans Demand Justice for Victims of Police Abuse

MEXICO CITY – Thousands of Mexicans have protested around the country to demand justice for the dozens of students who went missing after an altercation with police in the southern state of Guerrero late last month.

The national protest was called by the families of the 43 youths whose whereabouts remain unknown after being attacked in Iguala city, where at least six people died and 25 were injured in the incident.

In Guerrero’s capital Chilpancingo, 10,000 demonstrators according to police estimates, and 50,000 according to the organizers, demanded the return of the 43 students from the Normal Rural School of Ayotzinapa.

They also demanded explanations from authorities for the deaths of the six people killed in the incident and the resignation of Guerrero Governor Angel Aguirre.

Students from nine Normal Rural Schools, which train aspiring teachers, from Ayotzinapa and from other Mexican localities participated in the protest, along with the students’ families, trade union members, peasants, human rights activists and members of various social groups.

Department of Education workers announced that they would remain permanently gathered in the capital’s main square until the 43 young people were found.

In Mexico City, around 10,000 people, led by families of the missing students, marched from the iconic Angel of Independence to Zocalo Plaza seeking justice.

With large banners, posters and flags, the demonstrators, mostly youths, marched through the central avenues of Mexico City.

“They took them alive, we want them alive!”; “Ayotzinapa, we are with you!”; “If there is no peace for the people, there is no peace for the government!” and “We want justice for Ayotzinapa!” were some of the slogans shouted by the demonstrators.

There were posters with photographs of the 43 missing students and Mexican flags dyed black.

The Mexican federal government this week took over the investigation of the violent events in Iguala and took control of the town’s security after the discovery of six clandestine graves with 28 bodies which could be some of the students.

In the attacks on the night of Sept. 26, police opened fire on students who had hijacked several buses and the six people were killed.

The police were seen taking away dozens of the students who have not been seen again.

Authorities have so far arrested 30 people allegedly involved in the incident, including 22 policemen who reportedly have links to a local organized crime group.