Background
For years in Mexico city, the « Asamblea General Permanente del Pueblo de San Gregorio Atlapulco » (the San Gregorio Atlapulco People’s/Neighborhood’s Permanent General Assembly) has been fighting over multiple environmental and social issues.

In December 2022, the community was repressed by the security forces for peacefully expressing its opposition to the an installation by the Water System of Mexico City that had not been previously consulted.

The assembly has also reopened the « Adolfo López Mateos » library, that was closed after an earthquake in September 2017. Afterwards, the space was called the « Tlamachtiloyan People’s House » and became a symbol of the neighborhood’s struggles for the defense of the territory.

Among others, the teacher Hortensia Telésforo Jimenez played a central role in this reappropriation of the library by the community. She was also previously a victim of attacks by local authorities, including a physical assault against her in 2022.

On August 2024, she learned that she was summoned by local authorities and was forced to go at the South Prison on September 5th for an investigation hearing regarding the dispossession of the « Adolfo López Mateos » library.

Demo against criminalization
On the day of her summons, a group of demonstrators from the community decided to accompany her in a show of solidarity. She was also accompanied by 5 people (among them a journalist from Radio Zapote) who went with her to see the authorities.

After being informed that the hearing wouldn’t take place, they all decided to move to the mayor’s offices, where they deployed banners.

Demo is attacked
Around 1:50 p.m., the police left the scene, and a group of individuals carrying sticks, knives, and firearms arrived and assaulted the protestors. The police came back later to further repress the demo. About a dozen people were so heavily brutalized that they had to be sent to an hospital.

Furthermore, the 5 people accompanying Hortensia got arrested.

Here’s a video of the attack.

Release them!
The whereabouts of the 5 arrested people were unknown for five hours. At some point, demonstrators found out that they had been transferred to the Coordination office of Mexico City’s Attorney General’s Office (FGJCDMX). About 40 people went to demand their release

Police officers also arrived. They violently attacked the demonstrators with fire extinguisher powder and irritant gases. Police subdued journalists and human rights defenders who were documenting the events, and detained about ten people. Here’s a video of what happened next.

People are released
Following the pressure from land and territory struggle collectives, members of the Otomi community, journalist networks, and civil society organizations, the 5 people were released around 11:45 p.m.

However, the Attorney General’s Office continues to pursue an investigation against them for alleged participation in crimes such as assault, rioting, public order disturbance, and resistance of individuals.

Sources:

https://articulo19.org/organizaciones-del-fleps-exigen-un-alto-a-las-violaciones-a-derechos-humanos-y-represion-policial-en-la-alcaldia-xochimilco/

https://lacaderadeeva.com/actualidad/represion-en-xochimilco-por-la-defensa-de-hortensia-telesforo/11133

https://www.facebook.com/ColectivaToffanaFQ

https://www.facebook.com/regeneracionradio