On September 26, 2023, families of the 43 Mexican students who disappeared in 2014 gathered in Mexico City to demand justice, marking the 11th anniversary of the tragedy. The protest took place on a central boulevard, where demonstrators chanted for “truth and justice.” The students, from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in Guerrero, vanished while traveling to Mexico City for a protest.
Authorities believe the students were abducted in Iguala and killed by members of a criminal cartel that allegedly had connections with government and military officials. The case has highlighted a profound distrust in Mexican authorities, exacerbated by a government cover-up that resulted in a false narrative of events. Despite numerous arrests—including a former attorney general and local officials—no convictions have been secured.
The case has become emblematic of ongoing issues surrounding corruption and cartel violence in Mexico, where over 133,000 individuals are reported missing. The number 43, alongside the faces of the students, continues to be a poignant symbol throughout the country, visible in memorials and graffiti.
Families have expressed their anguish and frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the fate of their loved ones. Hilda Hernández, mother of César Manuel González, stated in a video message, “After 11 years, the demand remains the same: their whereabouts; the truth, however painful it may be; and justice.” The call for accountability has intensified as protests continued, including a recent incident outside a military base in the capital that culminated in a truck being rammed into the gates and set on fire.
Since 2022, relatives have urged the armed forces to release hundreds of documents critical to the investigation, but the military has not complied. On the anniversary, security was heightened in downtown Mexico City to prevent potential violence during the protests.
The Ayotzinapa case has been classified as a “state crime” since 2022, with prosecutors alleging that police collaborated with a local cartel involved in heroin trafficking, acting in collusion with various state and federal authorities. Although burned remains of three students have been discovered, the motives and the fates of the remaining individuals remain unclear.
President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her commitment to uncovering the truth and delivering justice for the families. She announced changes in the special prosecutor’s office and stated that new lines of investigation are underway. Nonetheless, families remain skeptical about any real progress. “Governments come and governments go,” lamented Clemente Rodríguez, father of Christian Rodríguez, “but the case remains unresolved.”
Over a hundred individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, with some released due to procedural errors while others continue to face trial. This includes former Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam, who is charged with multiple offenses, including torture and obstruction of justice. Key arrests and extraditions still pending involve former chief investigator Tomás Zerón, who is currently believed to be in Israel.
As families continue to fight for justice, the memory of the 43 students endures, serving as a persistent reminder of the need for accountability in a nation grappling with systemic issues of corruption and violence.
