Protests in Cuauhtémoc over Castro, Guevara statues spark detentions dispute

A protest in Mexico City's Cuauhtémoc borough, marking the 73rd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, turned violent as some demonstrators vandalized the borough building, leading to detentions and a dispute between local authorities over the handling of those arrested. The demonstration centered on demands to reinstall statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara removed from a public park in 2023.

What happened

• A group of protesters, some hooded, spray-painted the borough headquarters, a building protected by the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBAL). Source: excelsiormx
• Six individuals were detained by police, according to reports from the Frente de la Juventud Comunista and the borough mayor. Source: lajornadamx
• The Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) initially stated that detainees were freed after a warning, but the mayor claimed they were sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Source: infobae

Contradictory accounts

• Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega asserted on social media that "the protest is respected. Crimes are not" and that vandals were placed at the disposal of the Fiscalía. Source: infobae
• The SSC's official report contradicted this, saying officers "decided not to put them at the disposal of the Public Ministry" and instead issued warnings. The SSC also opened an internal investigation into officer conduct. Source: excelsiormx
• A local security official, Lilian ChapaKoloffon, alleged that detainees were sent to the MP but then "freed by the queen of impunity." Source: infobae

Broader context

The march, organized by groups like Va por Cuba and the Movimiento Mexicano de Solidaridad con Cuba, was part of a larger demonstration against the U.S. embargo on Cuba and potential military intervention. Source: infobae