CTNE protesters at Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s window, as he ignores their requests. Photo: Facebook

By KELIN DILLON

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) SUV was held at a standstill by protesting members of the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CTNE) teachers’ union for the second day in a row while on tour in Chiapas, with the group demanding for him to listen to their demands and reopen negotiations. 

López Obrador refused to get out of the car, only rolling down the window of his stopped Suburban at one point to answer, “if there is no respect, no.” 

In response, a teacher present at the window said, “but it is the authority who does not respect us,” prompting AMLO to quickly roll up his window yet again.

The group said the protest was completely peaceful and only intended to reopen  a dialogue that has been deadlocked for the past nine months.

“We are demanding the reinstatement of the negotiating table,” said one teacher through a megaphone. “What do we propose? That the savings bank solution is a resource for the workers, for the unemployed. That is what we are asking for. We are not asking for something else and it is false when they say that we are a mafia or that we are supporting the right side of the aisle. Never! Because we come from below, we are children of workers, merchants, indigenous people.”

After the demonstration, the CTNE allowed the motorcade to continue on its way to Motozintla, Chiapas.