WOLA: Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas
20 Jun 2016 | News

Violence in Oaxaca is Another Example of Mexican Police Using Excessive Force against Protesters

WOLA Condemns the Violence between the Federal Police and Protesters in Nochixtlán, Oaxaca

On June 19, Federal Police in Oaxaca intervened to break up a demonstration by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación, CNTE) teachers’ movement. According to information available, this intervention has resulted in at least 6 people killed, 108 injured, and 24 arrested. In a Spanish-language press release, WOLA expressed its deep concern for the situation and highlighted that the Federal Police’s response to the Oaxaca protesters demonstrates once again that Mexican police forces lack an adequate legal framework regarding the use of force. WOLA cited examples of other cases in which Mexican security forces have responded to social movements with lethal force.

To read the full press release, please click here (available in Spanish only).