Mexico killings protested

Dozens of people picketed the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco on Oct. 8 and spoke angrily about the Sept. 26 killings of six teacher education students (normalistas) by the municipal police of Ayotzinapa in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, and the kidnap of 43 other students.

Unmarked graves were discovered Oct. 4 with more than 28 charred bodies. Media reports indicate they may be the remains of the 43 arrested and kidnapped students. Witnesses and security cameras indicate that the students were delivered by the municipal police to drug gangs to be killed.

Speakers at the rally pointed out the complicity of the U.S. government in creating the environment which led to this massacre, from the so-called war on drugs, the militarization of the U.S./Mexico border, the ramp-up of deportations and the ruinous North American Free Trade Agreement.

The families of these young people, students, teachers and many other groups in Mexico have condemned what happened and are demanding justice. There are many actions being called throughout Mexico and around the world. Demands at the San Francisco rally included “Justice for the fallen students!” “They took them alive, we want them back alive!” “Trial and punishment for those responsible!” and “Stop the cooperation of local, regional and national governments with elements of organized crime!”