Mexico City Police Violently Crackdown on Occupying Teachers

[BelgianMadCow]

Thousands of riot cops marched towards El Zócalo. Small groups of teachers with rocks and sticks attempted to resist, but it was an asymmetrical battle and in a matter of minutes the police had seized control of the national monument in the center of the city.

Once in control of the plaza, following a script that has become familiar to many cities in the world, the riot police tore the occupation camp down and arrested those who dare resist the government and its policies, even if they are teachers.

Since assuming power, Enrique Peña Nieto had faced opposition from many different sectors, which he has met with a heavy hand, criminalizing unions and student groups, all of which have faced police brutality and arbitrary detentions. Amnesty International reported the detention and violation of human rights of a number of independent journalists. AI called the Mexican government to respect the freedom of the press.

Some of the detainees are charged with "disrupting public peace" and even "attacks to the nation". Beatings and inhumane treatment were reported by detained teachers and journalists.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10726

The teachers have set up camp again near a monument for the mexican revolution. They occupied the square cleared on Friday for 5 months. They protest the palns to introduce standardized testing of teachers wich would result in automatic dismissal when the results are bad, and apparently also underfunding of schools.

[gopiscrap]

1. We need to stand with the teachers in any way we can!