Annual March in Mexico City Shifts Focus to Gaza Crisis

MEXICO CITY — The annual march held on October 2 to remember the 1968 massacre of students in Mexico City took a different direction this year as protesters called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The event traditionally commemorates the tragic events when Mexican troops attacked students advocating for greater freedoms and an end to militarization, yet this year, the focus broadened to include international solidarity with Palestinians.

The march began at Tlatelolco plaza, the site of the 1968 violence, and moved towards the capital’s central plaza. Participants carried Palestinian flags and held placards demanding an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Among them was Edgar López, a 23-year-old economics student, who articulated the sentiments of many participants by stating, “We feel empathy not only for ours, for those our grandparents died for, but for all men and women around the world who are suffering what at one time we suffered.”

While the majority of the march was peaceful, some individuals engaged in vandalism, targeting storefronts and throwing objects, including Molotov cocktails, at police stationed near the National Palace. According to estimates from Mexico City officials, approximately 10,000 people participated in the event, with around 350 identified as masked and acting aggressively. Reports indicated that at least three journalists faced attacks from both police and protesters, highlighting a tense atmosphere.

Earlier in the week, a smaller protest emerged in response to the detention of humanitarian aid flotilla members by Israeli authorities. Among those detained were six Mexicans. In response, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her administration was pushing for their immediate repatriation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to its citizens abroad.

The October 2 march, which has historically served to remember the victims of state violence and the ongoing issue of disappearances in Mexico, has now become a platform for advocating against injustices worldwide. This year’s events reflect a growing trend of global interconnectedness in activism, as individuals draw parallels between local struggles and international crises.