Catherwood LibraryILR School

As the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) struggles against the Mexican government’s proposed education reforms, it finds itself confronted with deadly violence which cost the lives of six civilians in a recent confrontation between Mexican state and federal police and CNTE protestors. Following the arrests of key union leaders within the CNTE for various white collar crimes and the government’s proposal to administer testing for teachers, the CNTE mobilized, taking to the streets to demonstrate on behalf of Mexican teachers. The CNTE has a reputation for its radical approach to protests and its members have upheld this reputation in violent and explosive clashes with the police as demonstrators blockaded key cities in the state of Oaxaca and were met with powerful resistance following weeks of similar activity throughout the country.