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5 Decades Later: The Unforgettable Truths Behind "2 De Octubre No Se Olvida" And Mexico’s 2024 Apology

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The phrase "2 de octubre no se olvida" (October 2nd is not forgotten) is more than a slogan; it is the enduring cry of a nation demanding justice for one of the most brutal state crimes in modern Mexican history: the 1968 Tlatelolco Massacre. This year, the solemn commemoration continues to resonate with new urgency, especially following the historic public apology issued on October 2, 2024, by President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose own family history is intertwined with the movement. The event, which occurred just ten days before the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, remains a painful symbol of state repression and the unfinished quest for truth and accountability in Mexico. The massacre at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco saw hundreds of students, workers, and residents gunned down by military and paramilitary forces. While official figures long downplayed the tragedy, new evidence, declassified documents, and the work of truth commissions reveal a far more sinister operation, confirming what activists have known for decades: this was a premeditated act of state terrorism against its own citizens.

The Principal Actors of the 1968 Tragedy: A Profile of Power and Protest

The events of October 2, 1968, were the climax of the Mexican Student Movement, a massive, months-long wave of protest demanding greater democratic freedoms and an end to government authoritarianism. Understanding the key players is essential to grasp the depth of the tragedy and why the memory is so fiercely protected today.

The Architect of Repression: President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz

  • Role: President of Mexico (1964–1970) from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
  • Action: Díaz Ordaz is widely considered the ultimate authority who ordered the military operation to crush the student movement, fearing the protests would disrupt the upcoming 1968 Olympic Games.
  • Legacy: In his 1969 government report, he infamously declared he was personally responsible for the decisions taken, both morally and legally. His administration was characterized by a hard-line stance against dissent.

The Paramilitary Force: The Batallón Olimpia

  • Role: A clandestine, counterinsurgency paramilitary group created specifically by the Mexican government under the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación).
  • Action: Members of the *Batallón Olimpia*—distinguishable by a white glove or handkerchief—infiltrated the student rally at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas. They were responsible for initiating the shooting from the surrounding buildings, triggering the full military response and creating the illusion that the students fired first.
  • Purpose: Officially, their mission was to provide security for the Olympic Games, but their real purpose was to surveil, spy on, and repress the student movement.

The Voice of the Movement: The Comité Nacional de Huelga (CNH) and Comité del 68

  • Role: The National Strike Committee (CNH) was the central organizing body of the 1968 student movement, comprised of representatives from institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN).
  • Legacy: The *Comité del 68* (68 Committee), formed by survivors, students, and family members, continues to be the main organization responsible for organizing the annual commemorative march, ensuring the slogan "2 de octubre no se olvida" remains a vibrant call for justice.

The Shocking New Truths: Declassified Documents and the Truth Commission

For decades, the official narrative minimized the scale of the massacre, claiming a low death toll and blaming "communist agitators" for the violence. However, recent efforts to uncover the truth have validated the claims of the survivors and activists, revealing the true brutality of the state's actions.

The True Death Toll: Shattering the Official Narrative

The government of Gustavo Díaz Ordaz initially claimed only 20 to 28 people were killed. However, the work of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the findings of the *Comisión de la Verdad* (Truth Commission) established in recent years paint a devastatingly different picture. The consensus among human rights organizations is that the number of victims far exceeded the official count.

  • Truth Commission Estimate: Data collected by truth-seeking efforts indicates that the actual death toll surpassed 300 people, with over 700 wounded and thousands arrested and detained.
  • State Crime: The massacre is now officially recognized by human rights bodies as a state crime and a crime against humanity, a critical legal distinction that rejects the previous attempts to obscure responsibility.

The Link to the "Dirty War" and Enduring Impunity

The Tlatelolco Massacre was not an isolated incident but a key event that sparked Mexico's brutal "dirty war" against political dissent, which lasted through the 1970s. The impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of the 1968 killings set a dangerous precedent for future human rights abuses.

The New Truth Commission, established under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has been tasked with investigating the crimes of this era. While its work is ongoing, it has brought to light new evidence, including testimonies about military operations and the use of violence against civilians, reinforcing the systemic nature of the repression.

The 2024 Public Apology: A Step Toward Healing and Accountability

The 2024 commemoration marked a significant milestone with a formal, historic gesture from the highest office. On October 2, 2024, President Claudia Sheinbaum issued an official apology for the Tlatelolco Massacre.

A Personal and Political Statement

President Sheinbaum's apology was particularly resonant because of her personal history: her mother was dismissed from her professorship for speaking out against the massacre in 1968. This act of reconciliation, coming from a new administration, represents a symbolic break from decades of government denial and silence.

The apology is a crucial step in the process of transitional justice, acknowledging the state's role in the atrocity and validating the pain of the victims and their families. However, activists stress that a formal apology must be followed by concrete actions: the full prosecution of all living perpetrators and a commitment to preventing future state violence.

The Enduring Significance of the Slogan

Today, the phrase "2 de octubre no se olvida" has evolved beyond a single historical event. It has become a universal banner for social justice movements across Mexico, often chanted at protests related to contemporary issues of state violence and impunity, such as the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students.

The chant serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for democracy and human rights is continuous. It connects the past to the present, ensuring that the sacrifice of the 1968 students is not forgotten, and that the demand for *verdad y justicia* (truth and justice) remains an active force in Mexican society.

The annual march to the Zócalo, led by the *Comité del 68*, is a pilgrimage of memory and resistance. It is a collective act of defiance against historical revisionism, a declaration that the memory of the victims will continue to fuel the struggle for a more democratic and just Mexico. As the country moves forward, the shadow of Tlatelolco persists, ensuring that the demand for accountability remains clear: the state must never again turn its weapons on its own people.

5 Decades Later: The Unforgettable Truths Behind
2 de octubre no se olvida
2 de octubre no se olvida

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