Tlatelolco: The Shame of a Nation

[Silvia Medina]

The Modern Tradition of Nonviolent Resistance

On the first day of class when asked why she was taking the course, a fellow student responded by saying that with all the violence surrounding us, that it would be nice to get away from the violence for a change. Professor Carson quickly warned us that eventhough we would be studying nonviolent resistance movements, it did not mean that it would be free from violence. Now that the course is over, having researched and listened to the different case studies presented by the class, Professor Carson's warning is well understood.

Tlatelolco: The Shame of a Nation

For quick general overview: Hist-TlatelolcoRevisited.pptx

For a more detailed account and analysis: Hist204F-Final-Tlatelolco.docx

1968 Student Movement Timeline

• July 22: Fight breaks out between two students from rival campuses.
• July 23: Fight escalates to group brawl. Police called. Granaderos (riot police) respond with overwhelming force. Beat innocent students.
• July 26: Students protest police abuse. Granaderos begin unprovoked attacks. Communist student group’s office raided and leaders arrested. Students trapped on campus, military perimeter. Violence continues.
• July 30: Military violently takes control of schools (tanks, bazooka)
• Aug 1: Students outraged. Protest police violence and start to organize.
• Aug 9: Consejo Nacional de Huelga (CNH) created to head the movement. Agree on 6 demands.
• Aug 13: March to Zocalo (city center)
• Aug 15: Media under government control. Form brigades to communicate with masses.
• Aug 20: Government representatives do not attend dialogue meeting.
• Aug 27: Second march to Zocalo
• Sept 1: President Diaz Ordaz delivers Presidential Message. Horrible image of students.
• Sept 13: The Great Silent March, focus on nonviolence and silence. Undue media image. Optimist for dialogue meeting.
• Sept 18: Military takes over UNAM. Fail to capture CNH leaders.
• Sept 21: Violence breaks out for several days again
• Sept 27: Rally
• Sept 30: Military withdraws from UNAM on own initiative. Hope for dialogue restored.
• Oct 2: Tlatelolco Massacre

Consejo Nacional de Huelga (National Strike Council, CNH)

• Created to unify the many student organizations protesting police violence.
• Limit demands to 6:

1. That all political prisoners be released

2. Repeal of Articles 145 and 145b (imprisonment anyone attending meeting deemed to threaten public order)

3. Abolition of granaderos

4. Dismissal of the chief of police and deputy

5. Indemnification of the families of the dead and injured who had been victims of the aggression since July 26

6. Clarification on officials' responsibility for the acts of repression and vandalism committed by the police, granaderos, and army

• Demand public meeting with government representatives to discuss demands
  
• Address the masses not the corrupt government

The Movement and Nonviolence

For both Gandhi and Dr. King nonviolence was a way of life. Yet many of their followers were dedicated to the movements not necessarily because of their belief in nonviolence but simply out of the respect and trust in their leaders. The 1968 CNH student movement was obviously far from being free of violence. Although the leaders of the CNH did not officially adopt nonviolence as a core tenet of the organization, they did practice it and also spoke out against militancy. They implemented nonviolent tactics such as the brigades, the Silent March, and hunger strikes. However, many of its members did engage in violent acts whether it was in self defense or as a member of a different organization. Was it a nonviolent movement? When a group has not taken a clearly stated position on nonviolence or militancy, what qualifies a movement as either?

Tlatelolco In Historical Perspective

It took 30 years for the Mexican government to finally order an investigation of the massacre on October 2, 1968. Government snipers initiated the gunfire. Evidence suggests that it was thoroughly planned. The massacre at Tlatelolco without a doubt overshadowed the movement itself. Was the CNH student movement a success? Most people would perhaps quickly say no! At the time, the movement was not seen as having been very successful. Looking back however, it is considered the turning point in Mexican politics. The students of 1968 did something never done before, they openly challenged and voiced their dissatisfaction with the government.