Mexico City Protests: CNTE Strike Ends, New Demonstrations Begin

Mexico City Protests: CNTE Strike Ends, But New Demonstrations Begin Mexico City – Members of the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) ended their 24-day strike this week, but the Zócalo, Mexico City's main square, remains a stage for protest. While the CNTE's demands for increased salaries and pensions persist, a new demonstration has emerged. Approximately 200 students from the Escuela Normal de Mactumactzá in Chiapas have set up a protest demanding justice for their slain classmate, Jesús Alaín Vázquez, who was murdered on May 15th. The video raises questions about the funding of these protests. A report from the Centro de Estudios de Finanzas Públicas of the Cámara de Diputados reveals that Guerrero state holds the largest debt to the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), totaling 19,389 million pesos. This debt includes contributions to retirement, disability, and life insurance, raising concerns about the financial resources available to sustain such prolonged protests. "They ask for more, but they also owe the most," a local resident commented in the video. Another resident added, "It's like a mafia, they get funding to cause so much disruption." The juxtaposition of the CNTE's demands and their significant debt to ISSSTE creates a complex narrative. The students' protest, while separate, adds another layer to the ongoing social and political tensions in Mexico City. The situation underscores the need for transparency in funding for social movements and the importance of addressing the financial obligations of states to social security institutions.