It has been over 4 months since the disappearance of the students and the “facts” about the events released by the Mexican government have served no purpose other than to convince the Mexican population of the Mexican president’s inability to comprehend the depth of the wound that bleeds deep inside the souls of the Mexican people. The investigation carried out by the Procuraduría General de la República, the office of the Attorney General of Mexico, is full of inconsistencies and lacks sound evidence, and the version of the events released by the government has been disputed by academics, activists and journalists alike. We are standing in the crossroads of a state that openly and unapologetically lies and betrays its role towards its own citizens. This lack of human empathy and the basic assurances of a justice system, has forced Mexicans to stand up and fight against their own government.
Many ask: Why should I care about Ayotzinapa? The truth is that I cannot tell you or anyone else why you should care, all I can do is recall a quote from one of the most influential educators of the modern times, Paolo Freire who spoke of the fact that one cannot dehumanize others without dehumanizing ourselves. Every time we look away from an injustice, no matter how small, we are allowing injustice to take root in the soul of humanity. Every time we allow someone to be disappeared, murdered or dehumanized, we lose a part of our humanity. The fight for Ayotzinapa is putting the world on trial. Our response to our current historical moment will answer these questions for us, and be not mistaken, history will judge us all.
Ayotzinapa has buried itself deep in the heart of the pain of those of us who see our motherland far away and on fire.
Beyond the swelling masses that gather in México on a regular basis to demand justice, there is the work that must be done from far away places like Chicago. This is the work of building a solidarity movement that seeks to light the fire of change inside those of us who believe in justice.
In the United States a few networks have been created that join the many fights and we are currently working to bring the voices of those who suffer the crimes in the flesh: the parents of the disappeared students. In Chicago, we will have the privilege of listening to the voices of the parents who will visit us as part of the Caravana43 project. Behind every student that was taken lies the suffering of those who anxiously await them, for in the minds of the parents and those who know and love them, there is no room for doubt, they believe that their children are alive and that is precisely how they want them back: Vivos se los llevaron, vivos los queremos! Alive they took them, alive we want them back.
Laura J Ramírez
PhD Candidiate Educational Policy Studies,
University of Illinois at Chicago
