Parents and relatives of the 43 students who vanished from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher-training college in Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero, marched once again through downtown Mexico City to mark another year without answers. The students disappeared in September 2014 after being attacked by local police and, according to official and independent investigations, handed over to a criminal gang. To this day, only a handful of the young men have been forensically identified, and the fate of most of them remains unknown.
During the demonstration, family members told reporters that despite repeated government promises—from multiple administrations—to reveal the full truth and punish those responsible, they still feel abandoned by the authorities. They renewed their call for the state to release classified military and police files that they believe hold key evidence, and for prosecutors to pursue outstanding arrest warrants against officials and soldiers allegedly involved.
The case has become a symbol in Mexico of forced disappearances and impunity, drawing international attention from human rights groups. Each September, the anniversary march through the capital draws students, activists, and ordinary citizens who join the families in demanding justice.
To read the full report and hear directly from the families, check out the original story on jornada.com.mx.
Source: “A 12 años no tenemos respuesta”, denuncian padres de los 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa tras marcha en CDMX (jornada.com.mx).
Image: Roger Blackwell, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).