Teacher Protests Over Education Reform Paralyze Mexico City · Global Voices
J. Tadeo

Mexico's capital has been hit by the protests organized by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) in recent days.
The CNTE protests have become violent at times, causing property damage [es] on the premises of the San Lázaro legislative palace, for example.
The CNTE is a different labor union from the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) whose former leader, Elba Esther Gordillo, finds herself subject to criminal persecution for her alleged responsibility in the commission of the crime commonly known as “money laundering.”
CNTE union members oppose the education reforms already passed, seeking to repeal them, and simultaneously refuse to have the knowledge and skills of teachers be evaluated, as currently proposed.
Among the actions of protest carried out by the CNTE is the blocking of the United States Embassy, cuts to road traffic near Mexico City International Airport [es], and the occupation of the Zocalo [es].
The #CNTE march on August 28. Photo shared by @reformanacional on Twitter
The CNTE protest has caused widespread dismay among citizens, who have said said the following via Twitter:
User @lonsor@y@do (@alonsorayad0) [es] referred to the mobilization of CNTE members and supporters who march towards the Official Residence of Los Pinos as such:
los del #cnte ya van a Los Pinos por $500 que les pagan diariamente los de #morena ,desquician la ciudad
— @lonsor@y@do (@alonsorayad0) August 28, 2013
those with the #cnte are already going to Los Pinos for the $500 that those of [political movement led by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador] #morena pay them daily, they are unhinging the city
Edgar Cabrera (@ecabrera78) [es] ironically mentioned that the CNTE is right while simultaneously calling them vandals:
Tienen razón los de la #CNTE, México no tiene presidente, si tuviera, ya hubiera hecho algo contra estos vándalos. pic.twitter.com/3SFqqEMrXH
— Edgar Cabrera (@ecabrera78) August 28, 2013
The #CNTE is right, Mexico has no president, if it did, s/he would have already done something about these vandals.
McPhisto (@McPhisto_77) [es] rebuked the Head of the D.F. Government for his inactive stance against the traffic closures and disturbances that the CNTE has caused:
oye @ManceraMiguelMX de qué se trata? CNTE cierra lo que quiere y todos tenemos que aguantarnos porque tú no quieres hacer tu chamba?
— McPhisto (@McPhisto_77) August 27, 2013
listen, @ManceraMiguelMX what is this about? The CNTE closes whatever they want and we all have to deal with it because you don't want to do your job?
Fernanda Arce Amaré (@FerAcerAmere) [es] also spoke out against those who hold executive power (local and federal), and briefly recounted the CNTE's actions in recent days:
Aeropuerto, San Lázaro, televisoras, zócalo. Ya va un muerto gracias a la #CNTE. Cuándo piensa actuar @epn? Porque @ManceraMiguelMX no puede
— Fernanda Arce Amaré (@FerArceAmare) August 28, 2013
Airport, San Lázaro, television, zócalo. There has already been a death thanks to the #CNTE. When does @epn [President Enrique Peña Nieto] plan to act? Because @ManceraMiguelMX cannot
The CNTE mobilization has not only caused a severe disruption to traffic and work activity of many of those who live in the capital, but it has also led to the suspension of the classic football match [es] between the Club Universidad Pumas and the Club America Eagles, scheduled for Sunday, September 1. BernardoBernardo Altamirano (@beraltamirano) [es] expressed the following regarding the issue:
Ahora el GDF pide cambiar el Pumas-América x marchas! Osea, todos los ciudadanos nos ajustamos a una #CNTE, q no quiere ajustarse a nada!
— Bernardo Altamirano (@beraltamirano) August 27, 2013
Now the Federal District's Government is asking to change the Pumas-America because of the protests! Come on, all of us citizens are adapting to the #CNTE, who doesn't want to adapt to anyone!
Sarcastically, Adriana Valero (@adrianavr) [es] remembers that traffic problems are not unusual in a city like the Federal District:
Maldita sea la #CNTE por generar tráfico en esta ciudad que se caracteriza por no tenerlo.
— adriana valero (@adrianavr) August 27, 2013
Damn the #CNTE for generating traffic in this city that is characterized by not having it.
User Salva (@alfarosalvador) [es] noted the fact that the CNTE does not have an official website:
Tanto que exige la #CNTE ser escuchada y no se han molestado en levantar una página de internet.
— Salva (@alfarosalvador) August 28, 2013
As much as the #CNTE is demanding to be heard, they have not bothered to create a webpage.
PsicotravelMx (@PsicotravelMx) [es] remembered that not only those who live in the capital, but those who fail to receive the education that CNTE members should provided, are also affected:
Cual es la sanción para quien viola el derecho humano de educación a un niño, como lo hacen los porros de la #CNTE #CNDH
— PsicotravelMx (@PsicotravelMx) August 28, 2013
What is the punishment for those who deny the human right of education to a child like these members of the #CNTE #CNDH
Users like Pawmuerta (@pawmuerta) [es] point out that all of this is simply a television strategy to get people to hate the CNTE:
¿Están conscientes de que suspenden el fútbol para que la gente tenga más razones para odiar a la #CNTE? Estrategia televisiva, otra vez.
— Pawmuerta (@pawmuerta) August 28, 2013
Are you all conscious of the fact that they are suspending football so that people have more reasons to hate the #CNTE? Television strategy, once again.
The CNTE plans to continue camping out in the Zócalo in Mexico City and to have demonstrations in the coming days. It appears as though for now those in the capital city have no choice but to tolerate these protests and show their discontent through social networks.