Mexico’s New President Issues Apology For 1968 Student Massacre

In one of her first acts as Mexico’s newly inaugurated president, Claudia Sheinbaum offered an official apology on Wednesday for the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, where security forces killed students during a peaceful rally. The massacre occurred just days before Mexico City hosted the Olympic Games. While official records state that 30 people were killed, activists and families claim that the death toll reached around 400.

Marking the anniversary of the tragedy, Sheinbaum, a former student activist, vowed that such acts of repression would never happen again in Mexico. She announced plans to issue a decree recognizing the massacre as a crime against humanity. Her apology and pledge came ahead of a planned protest in Mexico City demanding justice for the victims.

Sheinbaum, born to Jewish migrants from Bulgaria and Lithuania, has personal ties to the 1968 student movement. Her mother, a university professor, lost her job after denouncing the massacre. Addressing her nation, Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of remembering the events, stating, “October 2nd will not be forgotten!”

However, for some, the apology was not enough. Oscar Menendez, a 90-year-old survivor of the massacre, expressed frustration, saying, “It is not enough to apologize. We want justice.” Others, like Angel Rodriguez, a fellow participant in the 1968 protests, appreciated the gesture but felt it should have come from earlier administrations.

Sheinbaum, who won the presidency in a landslide, has promised to continue the reformist agenda of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. One of her main challenges will be addressing the ongoing criminal violence plaguing Mexico, which has claimed over 450,000 lives since 2006. She plans to unveil her security plan next week, aiming to tackle the issue of drug trafficking and gang-related violence.