World Cup Kickoff in Mexico Accompanied by Protests, Road Blockades, and Airport Occupation

In the southern state of Chiapas, dozens of passengers were stranded after protesting teachers occupied parts of the international airport near the provincial capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez, as reported by the television channel Milenio TV. According to the channel, access to terminals was blocked at times, and air travelers had to wait for information and were unable to continue their journeys as planned.

In the state of Guerrero, protesting teachers demonstrated on various highways in the region and announced the blockade of banks in the capital, Chilpancingo. According to the organizers, the actions were directed against economic and socio-political decisions by the federal and state governments. School classes were also limited in several municipalities because teachers took to the streets instead of staying in their classrooms.

Guerrero and Oaxaca: Toll Booths and Pemex Facilities Occupied

In the state of Oaxaca, CNTE members took control of toll stations and a logistics center of the state oil company Pemex. The occupation of the toll booths meant regular fees no longer flowed to the operators, and freight traffic through the affected hubs was severely disrupted. The CNTE is a nationally active teachers' union classified as radical, which has been protesting the government's pension policies for years.

Capital: Demonstrations Against Pension Reform

In Mexico City, members of the CNTE teachers' union took to the streets to demand the withdrawal of a controversial pension reform. The union is calling for a full reversal of the reform, which it says worsens retirement provisions for teachers. The central demonstration moved through parts of the city and caused disruptions to commuter traffic.

Relatives of missing persons called for faster investigations and justice for their family members during a protest march. Around 130,000 people are considered missing in Mexico, many of them likely victims of organized crime. According to the organizers, the demonstrations by the relatives proceeded peacefully, with police securing the routes.

Otay Border Crossing: Blockade at the US Border

In Tijuana in the north of the country, demonstrators blocked access to the Otay border crossing to the US. The blockade led to significant delays for trucks and commuters and put a strain on one of the most important trade routes between Mexico and the United States. Individual freight companies rerouted trips through other border crossings.

The protest actions deliberately coincided with the kickoff of the World Cup, which is being held in Mexico, the US, and Canada. Organizers said the global attention should also focus on the country's domestic political problems. The security authorities of the affected states announced that they would monitor the situation at the hotspots and lift individual blockades as soon as it could be done without escalation.