Mexico City Poets Reject Culture Secretariat Dialogue, Citing 'Arbitrary Decisions'

A group of poets and cultural figures in Mexico City have refused to participate in a dialogue with the city's Secretariat of Culture, denouncing the proposed meeting as an "imposition of arbitrary decisions." The Committee in Defense of the Casa del Poeta issued a statement announcing their non-participation, asserting that only a "truly pluralistic consultation" can legitimize such a dialogue. While expressing belief in consensus-building, they rejected the process as currently proposed.

The decision follows an announcement by Ana Francis Mor, the Secretary of Culture for Mexico City. Mor had responded to an 11-point petition submitted by the committee on June 12. She confirmed the dismissal of Andrés Carreño from the directorship of the Casa del Poeta Ramón López Velarde, a key demand from the cultural community. Additionally, she stated that the "Café-Bar ‘Las Hormigas’ will not function as a cabaret." Mor then invited the committee to a dialogue session scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m.

However, the poets found the invitation to be insufficient and too hastily arranged. They stated that while they appreciated the "punctual response" from the Secretary of Culture, they found it "unacceptable to cite a Dialogue Table with less than 24 hours' notice." They argued that the speed of the invitation was incompatible with the gravity of the issues at hand. The committee is currently consulting with the broader artistic and cultural community regarding the authorities' response and will communicate their final decision later.