Attack on Normalistas in Route to Support CNTE Teachers Protest

By Jennifer Baker on June 4, 2015

Guerrero, Mexico – Normalistas, student teachers of Ayotzinapa and their family members were attacked by a large group composed of State riot police, Federal police and Military police in the tunnel leading to the community of Tixtla today.  The forces launched tear gas inside the beltway tunnel where they had blocked the progression of the normalistas vehicles. An effort to injure and stop the advance of the normalisats that are heading towards the community of Chilpancingo to march in support with striking teachers of CNTE union.

The resulting resistance has left 4 policemen injured, and at least 2 normalistas beaten.

For over a year the CNTE teachers union has been protesting education reforms that are to be voted on Sunday. CNTE carried out a direct action yesterday to overtake electoral offices and burn election ballots. Today members are marching to the monument to the revolution in downtown Mexico City while others have blockaded the Oaxaca airport and overtaken highway toll booths. Teachers have vowed to block Sunday’s election.

Students from the Rural Normal School of Ayotzinapa also denounced the recent detention of at least two of their colleagues in a demonstration near the center of the city of Chilpancingo. Parents are mobilized to look at various institutions of state security, because it is unknown where the arrested could be held.

Lawyers of Human Rights Center Tlachinollan, parents of normal school and the president of the Human Rights Commission of Guerrero, Ramon Navarrete Magdaleno, are in the headquarters of Chilpancingo, in search of information on the students, and for their release as soon as possible.

Source: Popular Resistance