In Mexico, the Teachers Movement Becomes a Peoples' Movement

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In Mexico, the Teachers Movement Becomes a Peoples' Movement

IN PICTURES: As Mexico City sees more marches it has become clear that the Nochixtlan massacre backfired and resulted in a broadening of the struggle.

One month after the Nochixtlan massacre that claimed 12 lives in the state of Oaxaca, it has become clear that rather than impeding the struggle of the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, state repression has only served to accelerate the momentum of the teachers' and students' struggle, as well as the broader fight of Mexican workers and Indigenous people – while also strengthening their spirit of defiance versus the unpopular government of Enrique Peña Nieto.

Mexico City has witnessed constant demonstrations against the government's neoliberal agenda, not only in relation to the education workers' fight but also the social demands of Mexico's restive and primarily Indigenous rural regions, who have been waging an effort to halt extractivist projects such as large hydroelectric dams, wind farms, and mining operations. Social movement organizers have also called on the government to free all political prisoners, end "state terrorism," and stop the criminalization of social protest.

teleSUR takes a look at the latest march in Mexico's capital, where thousands of teachers from across the country have converged to pressure the Mexican Interior Ministry during its ongoing negotiations with the CNTE.

Several thousand teachers of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) once again descended upon Mexico's capital to march against the so-called education reform. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

The march, which had CNTE groups from as far north as the Mexican state of Sonora to the southern state of Oaxaca, aimed to arrive to the Interior Ministry, where the CNTE leadership is holding meetings with the government over a new plan for public education. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

“When a law is unjust, the correct thing to do is disobey.” Mahatma Gandhi. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Despite the Nochixtlan massacre and the government's demands for the teachers' unconditional struggle, the CNTE has only gained momentum in its fight against the neoliberal reforms. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

The teachers highlight that Mexico is pluricultural, where in some regions indigenous languages and customs come from the pre-Colombia era, and few government resources manage to reach schools. The dissident teachers reject the reform's standardized testing on teachers, declaring that it lacks consideration of cultural knowledge and techniques. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Since the approval of President Enrique Pena Nieto's neoliberal education reform 3 years ago, the teachers have denounced the measure as a labor reform that ultimately seeks to strip public educators from their labor rights and open public education up to privatization. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

It was one month ago when federal police attacked CNTE roadblocks in the southern CNTE stronghold state of Oaxaca. At least 11 people were reported killed by police gunfire in the town of Nochixtlan, Oaxaca. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

The CNTE and other social organizations have decried the governments repressive response to the right to peaceful protest. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

The caravan was received with wide public support. The families of those killed in Nochixtlan demand a thorough investigation into the incident, and ultimately justice. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

To mark one month since the massacre in Nochixtlan, activists, community members and militants of the CNTE organized a caravan from Oaxaca to Mexico City. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Although federal authorities have committed to investigating, as of now no one has been arrested, and others who have been injured are still waiting for adequate medical supplies from the state for their injuries. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Although media smear campaigns have attacked the dissident public school teachers, calling them rebel rousers, the CNTE ultimately says that its struggle goes beyond labor rights, but rather aim to secure human and social rights for current and future generations. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Dissident teachers of the CNTE maintain blockades and barricades in various states, including Oaxaca, until firm commitments and actions are made by the authorities in providing justice in Nochixtlan, and changes to the education reform. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

The teachers' movement has now transformed into a broader social movement. Here indigenous community leaders from Oaxaca have come to the Mexican capital to also demand justice and fundamental change. Photo:teleSUR / Clayton Conn

Published 20 July 2016