In one of her first official acts as Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum offered a heartfelt apology for the 1968 massacre of students by the army. Marking the tragic anniversary, Sheinbaum, a former activist herself, vowed, “October 2nd will not be forgotten!” as she acknowledged the horrific event in Mexico City’s Tlatelolco district, just days before the 1968 Olympics.
Official records state that 30 people were killed when security forces opened fire on peaceful student protesters, but activists and family members argue the true death toll was closer to 400.
During her first press conference after taking office, Sheinbaum announced plans to issue a decree recognizing the massacre as a crime against humanity. She firmly promised that security forces would never again be used to harm or repress the Mexican people.
Born in Mexico City to Bulgarian and Lithuanian Jewish migrants, Sheinbaum’s upbringing was deeply influenced by activism. Her mother, a university professor, lost her job after condemning the massacre.
Later that day, thousands took to the streets in a traditional annual demonstration to honor the memory of the fallen students. Protesters known as the “black bloc,” dressed in black hooded clothing, clashed with police in Mexico City’s main square, the Zocalo, hurling stones and firecrackers.
Some, like 90-year-old Oscar Menendez, who witnessed the tragedy, felt the apology wasn’t enough. “It’s not enough to apologize. We want justice,” he said. Others, like 76-year-old Angel Rodriguez, who was also part of the student movement, appreciated the gesture but noted, “She was not obliged to offer that apology. It should have come from previous presidents, right after the massacre.”
Sheinbaum, a scientist turned politician, won her presidency with a sweeping victory and a commitment to continue the leftist reform agenda of her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. As the country grapples with ongoing violence tied to drug cartels and gangs, she is set to unveil her security plan next week, with a nation watching closely.
