Mothers searching for missing demand apology over alleged police aggression in Mexico City protest

Groups of mothers searching for missing relatives in Mexico City are demanding a public apology from the capital's government, alleging that police officers assaulted them during a protest on Tuesday. The demonstrators, primarily from the 'Luciérnagas' collective, stated that officers from the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) prevented them from reaching the Mexico City Stadium.

According to the protesters, the confrontation escalated from pushing to outright aggression by uniformed officers. Gabriela, a member of the collective, reported sustaining a wrist injury after being pushed by an officer. "We demand a public apology for the aggressions committed this morning during the protest," stated Antonia Cabrera, a mother searching for a missing person and a member of the Luciérnagas collective.

The mothers directed their demands to Mexico City's Secretary of Government, César Cravioto, and the Secretary of Citizen Security, Pablo Vázquez Camacho. They urged the officials to publicly acknowledge the events and ensure respect for the right to peaceful assembly. The protest occurred ahead of a 2026 World Cup match between Mexico and Ecuador.

Carrying banners and photographs of their disappeared family members, the mothers gathered on Paseo de la Reforma. They aimed to voice their discontent and reiterate their calls for justice, as well as for conditions that allow them to exercise their right to protest without fear of aggression. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between authorities and activist groups searching for loved ones in a country grappling with widespread disappearances.

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We demand a public apology for the aggressions committed this morning during the protest.