25
Dec 2024
6:04 UTC
Mexico Tactical: Protest march demanding justice for 2014 Iguala mass kidnapping victims slated in Mexico City on December 26; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- “Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa”, a collective of relatives of the 43 Normalistas students who disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero in 2014, have called for a protest march in Mexico City on December 26. Activists will gather at the Glorieta de Peralvillo at 13:00 (local time) and then march towards the Basilica de Guadalupe, where a mass will be held to commemorate 10 years and three months since the disappearance of the 43 students.
- This protest call follows an agreement on December 4 between civilian groups representing the victims’ families and President Claudia Sheinbaum to initiate a “new route” in the federal investigation. This new approach includes utilizing advanced technology to locate the missing individuals and reviewing the case files, among other measures.
Source: Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa
Assessments & Forecast
- Human rights activists and the collective Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa have organized multiple protests to commemorate and demand justice for the disappearance of the 43 students every month. The most recent demonstration occurred in Mexico City on November 26, drawing a turnout in the low hundreds and transpiring entirely peacefully. However, the September 26 protest, which marked the 10th anniversary of the 2014 incident, witnessed attendance in the high thousands to tens of thousands. The protest also saw instances of unrest, including graffiti vandalism by protesters in downtown Mexico City.
- FORECAST: Considering that the upcoming protest is not a commemoration of any anniversary and based on the November 26 and October 26 protests, the upcoming gathering will likely attract a lower turnout in the low-to-mid hundreds. While the September 26 protest saw unrest, the upcoming protest is anticipated to transpire largely peacefully. Regardless, given the heightened sentiments of the activists regarding the alleged involvement of state authorities with organized crime in the students’ disappearance, vandalism and scuffles between protestors and security personnel in the vicinity of the march route or key public buildings cannot be ruled out. Therefore, a bolstered security presence is expected along the march route. Should protests escalate, police are liable to use forcible crowd dispersal methods, including using baton charges, deploying tear gas, and conducting mass arrests. Additionally, localized disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic can be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest locations and along the march route during the afternoon hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Mexico City on December 26 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the protest march due to the potential for localized unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel due to the slated protest march during the afternoon hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
High
AFFECTED AREA
Mexico City, Mexico
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Current Situation
- “Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa”, a collective of relatives of the 43 Normalistas students who disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero in 2014, have called for a protest march in Mexico City on December 26. Activists will gather at the Glorieta de Peralvillo at 13:00 (local time) and then march towards the Basilica de Guadalupe, where a mass will be held to commemorate 10 years and three months since the disappearance of the 43 students.
- This protest call follows an agreement on December 4 between civilian groups representing the victims’ families and President Claudia Sheinbaum to initiate a “new route” in the federal investigation. This new approach includes utilizing advanced technology to locate the missing individuals and reviewing the case files, among other measures.
Source: Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa
Assessments & Forecast
- Human rights activists and the collective Padres Y Madres De Ayotzinapa have organized multiple protests to commemorate and demand justice for the disappearance of the 43 students every month. The most recent demonstration occurred in Mexico City on November 26, drawing a turnout in the low hundreds and transpiring entirely peacefully. However, the September 26 protest, which marked the 10th anniversary of the 2014 incident, witnessed attendance in the high thousands to tens of thousands. The protest also saw instances of unrest, including graffiti vandalism by protesters in downtown Mexico City.
- FORECAST: Considering that the upcoming protest is not a commemoration of any anniversary and based on the November 26 and October 26 protests, the upcoming gathering will likely attract a lower turnout in the low-to-mid hundreds. While the September 26 protest saw unrest, the upcoming protest is anticipated to transpire largely peacefully. Regardless, given the heightened sentiments of the activists regarding the alleged involvement of state authorities with organized crime in the students’ disappearance, vandalism and scuffles between protestors and security personnel in the vicinity of the march route or key public buildings cannot be ruled out. Therefore, a bolstered security presence is expected along the march route. Should protests escalate, police are liable to use forcible crowd dispersal methods, including using baton charges, deploying tear gas, and conducting mass arrests. Additionally, localized disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic can be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest locations and along the march route during the afternoon hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Mexico City on December 26 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance in the vicinity of the protest march due to the potential for localized unrest.
- Allot for disruptions to travel due to the slated protest march during the afternoon hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
High
AFFECTED AREA
Mexico City, Mexico
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
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