Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made history by offering an official apology for the 1968 student massacre, one of her first acts after taking office.
“October 2nd will not be forgotten!” Sheinbaum declared, honoring the anniversary of the tragic event.
As a former student activist and self-proclaimed “daughter of ’68,” Sheinbaum’s apology held deep significance.
The 1968 massacre saw security forces open fire on peaceful student protesters in Mexico City’s Tlatelolco district, just days before the country hosted the Olympic Games. Official figures report 30 deaths, but relatives and activists estimate the toll to be around 400.
During her first news conference as Mexico’s first woman president, Sheinbaum announced a decree labeling the killings a crime against humanity. She vowed that security forces would never again be used “to attack or repress the people of Mexico”.
Sheinbaum’s personal connection to the event runs deep, as her mother lost her university professor job for denouncing the massacre. Born to Bulgarian and Lithuanian Jewish migrants in Mexico City, Sheinbaum grew up amidst the turmoil of the 1960s student activism.
Thousands gathered for the annual demonstration in memory of the fallen students, with some protesters clashing with police. Oscar Menendez, 90, a survivor of the 1968 tragedy, demanded justice, saying apologies weren’t enough. In contrast, Angel Rodriguez, 76, saw the apology as a step towards healing the relationship between the people and the state.
Sheinbaum, a scientist-turned-politician, won a landslide victory in June, promising to continue her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s left-wing reforms. With Lopez Obrador’s approval rating at 70%, Sheinbaum takes on the challenge of addressing Mexico’s rampant criminal violence, which has claimed over 450,000 lives since 2006. Her security plan is expected next week.
