A Tale of Two Mexicos
The Mexico that President Diaz Ordaz wanted the world to see
1968 Olympic Games
Mexico was to be the first Latin American country to host the Olympic games in 1968. President Diaz Ordaz wanted to make sure that Mexico could be displayed proudly for the world to see. The government built stadiums, apartments and a subway system complimented by beautiful sculptures and murals. Around the world, Mexico looked like it was a very modern and stable country.
Protests started to develop among Mexican youth. The Olympics were about to begin in Mexico City and the government was quick to want the movement to dismantle so that they would not ruin the image of Mexico to the world. While the movement was broadcast worldwide, it didn’t get much international support. This was much to the relief of the Mexican government and the Olympics went on without protest. (With the exception of USA Track and Field members Tommie Smith and John Carlos who raised a black gloved fist on the podium in a protest against social injustice.)
PRI “The Family”
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) claimed to be the protective party of the Revolution. They viewed themselves as a revolutionary family. The young protesters were were being rebellious and were breaking up the family. They needed to be disciplined and set back on the right path. The organization of the rebellion in 1968 was so much like a family squabble; the father being the Diaz Ordaz administration and the PRI, the protesters being the teenagers trying to find themselves and their purpose. Traditionally, in Latin America the family was the most important part of life both socially and culturally. Since the family was struggling with unruly teens, the government asked parents for help and saw them as their best resource to wrangle the problem of the young protesters.
Much of the media in Mexico followed the lead of the President and the PRI. They did not show much sympathy for the young protesters nor did they tell their side of the story. The press coverage was in defense of the patriarch of the family and Diaz Ordaz was portrayed as the hero trying to continue the ideals of the Revolution and do what was best for the family.
The Goals and Direction of the Student Protests
The movement in 1968 was abut civil liberties, one of which was the right to gather and protest without being hurt, killed or imprisoned. (Oh, the irony of that goal and what was to come.) The protests were also against the paternalistic and oppressive government that young people felt was holding them back from being successful and reaching their full potential. The student protests had much influence from other events in Mexico and events around the world. They were influenced by what other young people were doing to protest in other countries such as the protests of U.S. students on campuses across the country about the Vietnam War. They were in awe of the revolution taking place in Cuba. All of these protests gave these young people hope that they had the power to change their path and make a difference.
Inspiration also came from specific people. Fidel Castro was an inspiration because of the Cuban Revolution. Cuba was struggling with labor issues and the young Mexican men and women could relate to the struggle. Another individual of inspiration was Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Che was born in Argentina and traveled over all of Latin America where his experiences turned him into a revolutionary. The ideas of Che were anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist. To the young protesters in Mexico, people like Che and Fidel were successful in fighting the manipulative and oppressive governments. The two were also young and exciting; they were relatable to the youth of Mexico.
The Women of the Movement
While leaders like Che and Fidel never mentioned women as an important part of their revolutions, the young women of Mexico became an important part of social movements starting in 1968. This is a big deal since women speaking in public and demonstrating is very against the tradition of social order in Mexico. Women became leaders in the student protest movement because they wanted not only to be role models, but to motivate the Mexican government to improve the lives of women. Roberta Avendano was one of these female demonstrators and she became affectionately known as “La Tita”. She became not only an inspiration to the social movement, but an inspiration to other women as well. This was the first time in Mexico where young women protested and debated in public. It helped Mexican women to gain confidence.
October 2, 1968
A meeting of the National strike Committee (CNH) was held at The Plaza de las Tres Culturas on October 2, 1968. While speeches were being given on the direction of the student protests and the movement, a helicopter flew low over the crowd and started firing upon them. The helicopter was followed by the entrance of tanks into the plaza as well as snipers and other soldiers.
The Mexican government claimed that the students were armed and that they were acting in the concern of the safety of the public. The government said that 30 people were killed (there is evidence that the number killed could be 700) and justified it with the ideas that the leaders were mostly foreigners and others who were enemies of the state of Mexico. The government also tried to justify their actions by convincing citizens that the protesters were extremists.
October 2nd marks the day in which the government finally succeeded in what they had been trying to do all along. They stopped the movement and gained control of Mexico once again. They continued to dishonor the actions of the young protesters. Mexico and the family of the PRI was in charge once again, but this time the leadership was completely out of fear from the example set at The Plaza de las Tres Culturas.
Revolution Lives
Although the goals of the movement were unsuccessful, it challenged Mexico’s patriarchal society and it paved the way for the feminist movement of the 1970’s. The new president, Luis Echeverria allowed educators and intellectuals to influence government. There were educational reforms, but they were probably put in place to keep another student social movement from forming. The distrust of the government and President Diaz Ordaz continued under President Echeverria. The youth of Mexico refused to comply and join “the family” again; the trust had been broken.
Carey, Elaine. Plaza of sacrifices: Gender, power, and terror in 1968 Mexico. UNM Press, 2005.
