Remembrance events for ‘1968 Tlatelolco Massacre’ planned for October 2 in Mexico City

The annual remembrance for the ‘1968 Tlatelolco Massacre’ will take place on October 2 in Mexico City. Beginning at 06:00 (local time), a public event will be held at the Monument for the Victims of State Violence, located along Paseo de la Reforma Avenue. Subsequently, at 16:00 demonstrators will march along the Eje Central and Flores Magón Avenues toward Plaza (Square) de la Constitución, also known as the Zócalo, where a public event will be staged at 18:00. Furthermore, organizers have reportedly asked Mexico City’s authorities not to dispatch security services to monitor the demonstrations. On October 2, 1968, between 300 and 400 students and civilians were killed by security services in Tlateloco, an area in central Mexico City.

According to the organizers, the remembrance events will be particularly special, marking the 50th anniversary of the said massacre. Precedent suggests the remembrance events are highly likely to be infiltrated by radical left-leaning elements, which are known to engage in violence. Taking into account the symbolic importance of this year’s events, notwithstanding the organizers’ requests, police will probably monitor the demonstrations closely. Heightened security presence could potentially increase the likelihood of scuffles between demonstrators and police, leading perhaps to violent clashes. In any event, major traffic disruptions will be witnessed in central Mexico City.

Those residing or traveling to Mexico City on October 2 are advised to avoid the vicinity of the demonstrations in the city center, given the likelihood for violence and scuffles between activists and security services.