Hundreds of students belonging to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Yucatan joined the protests against the presence of “porros” in the most important public higher education institution in the country.
A “Porro” is a member of an organization that pursues interests different from those of the University, whether political or economic, based on organized violence.
These students came from the Peninsular Center in Humanities and Social Sciences, the National School of Higher Studies Mérida Unit, and the Academic Unit of Sciences and Technology in the port of Sisal.
On Wednesday Sep. 5, around one o’clock in the afternoon, several young people gathered at Paseo de Montejo to start a march to the Plaza Grande, in support of the UNAM students who were injured during the violent acts that took place in Mexico City Ciudad Universitaria on Monday, September 3.
In that event, a group of students demonstrating peacefully in front of the UNAM’s Rectory building, was attacked by a group of “Porros“, with stones, knives and Molotov cocktails.
On Wedensday September 5, UNAM students walked along Calle 50 in support of their fellow students in Mexico City. After a stop at the park of La Mejorada they continued their march to Mérida’s Plaza Grande.
At all times the march was guarded by agents of the Municipal Police, who safeguarded the integrity of the students.
With posters in hand, the students entered the main square until they stood in front of the Government Palace, where after several minutes of shouting slogans, they ended up sittiong on the sidewalk in a pacific demonstration.
There, they proceeded to read several documents and press releases issued by UNAM authorities.
The campus of the UNAM in Yucatan, as well as several other faculties and high schools in Mexico City Ciudad Universitaria are kept in a work stoppage for 48 hours, which began on September 6 at 7 in the morning.
Gabriel González, from the school of Intercultural Development and Management, explained that the march was joined by students from the four bachelor’s degrees, since they know about the deficiencies that exist in the Azcapotzalco College of Sciences and Humanities, which is why the students were peacefully demonstrating last Monday, when they were attacked by “Porros“.
“At the Azcapotzalco College of Sciences and Humanities we also have problems and deficiencies, some of our classmates have been victims of femicide, just to give you an idea of how serious the situation is, so this march is in solidarity with our colleagues and classmates,” declared one the students.
He added that the organization of public events is to publicize the reasons for the conflict that exists in the the Azcapotzalco College of Sciences and Humanities, that belongs to UNAM.
TYT Newsroom with information from