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Mexico City Jewelers Lift Blockade, Threaten Return Over Historic Center Barriers
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Mexico City Jewelers Lift Blockade, Threaten Return Over Historic Center Barriers

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Jewelry merchants in Mexico City lifted a blockade on Eje Central and Avenida Juárez after authorities agreed to remove barriers in the Historic Center.
  • The merchants protested the impact of a sit-in by the CNTE teachers' union, which has prevented them from working and drastically reduced sales.
  • They warned they would resume the blockade if the government fails to uphold its promise to clear the area.

Jewelry merchants in Mexico City ended a two-hour blockade on Eje Central and Avenida Juárez, but issued a stern warning: they will return if the local government does not remove metal barriers from the Historic Center. The merchants initiated the protest due to the significant disruption caused by a sit-in organized by the National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers (CNTE), which has severely impacted their businesses.

They told us they will allow passage to the Zócalo, but if they don't comply, we will be here again.

— Guadalupe DíazA jewelry store employee, warning of renewed protests if the government fails to remove barriers.

Guadalupe Díaz, who works at a jewelry store near the Zócalo, stated, "They told us they will allow passage to the Zócalo, but if they don't comply, we will be here again." The CNTE's protest has effectively blocked access to businesses, preventing many merchants from working for days and causing a drastic drop in sales. Concepción, one of the protesting merchants, expressed her uncertainty: "Yesterday the shop was closed, and today too, we don't know what will happen. My boss doesn't know what we're going to do, that's why we came to protest."

Merchants reported being unable to enter the Historic Center to open their shops, with some businesses closed since the previous Sunday. Estela Escobar noted that sales had plummeted significantly over the past week. The blockade caused disruptions to public transport, specifically affecting line 1 of the Trolebús, which normally operates between the northern and southern terminals.

Yesterday the shop was closed, and today too, we don't know what will happen. My boss doesn't know what we're going to do, that's why we came to protest.

— ConcepciónA protesting merchant explaining the impact of the CNTE sit-in on her ability to work and her business.

Following the merchants' decision to lift the blockade, the Trolebús line 1 resumed its regular service. However, the underlying issue of the CNTE's protest and its impact on local businesses remains unresolved. The merchants' warning indicates a willingness to escalate their actions if the government does not fulfill its commitment to clear the area and allow normal commercial activity to resume.

Sales have dropped drastically since last week.

— Estela EscobarA jewelry store employee describing the economic impact of the ongoing situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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