It has been six years since the heavy repression in San Salvador Atenco in the State of Mexico, where people had gathered to protest the eviction of flower vendors from the Belisario Dominguez market.
The flower vendors therefore asked the Frente de Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra (FPDT) for back up since confrontations with the police were escalating. In response to the vendors calls the FPDT blockaded the Texcoco-Mexico City highway in order to pressure police away from their violence against unarmed civilians that would later result in the death of 14 year old Javier Cortés y 20 year old Alexis Benhumea.

Despite people’s resistance and pleas the PFP police under the then governor Enrique Pena Nieto’s command raided hundreds of homes, without any proper warrants, to allegedly search for members of the FPDT and supporters. Hundreds of people were physically and psychologically tortured, including 26 accounts of rape by PFP police members.
Atenco’s story is most relevant today because Enrique Pena Nieto was largely behind all the repressive tactics, and is now running for president of Mexico. This man who condones and defends this type of atrocities has never been charged nor tried for any of the civil rights violations he commanded. As his political campaign evolves he attempts to pose as a humane and just leader.
To learn more about the FPDT or learn about the events happening today and tomorrow visit their website here.