October 18, 2021

Viewfinder: Mexican Villagers Protest Displacement and Pressure the President-Elect

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People from San Salvador Atenco, a town outside of Mexico City, protest the construction of a new international airport on August 14th, 2018. For years, residents of the semi-rural town have fought against plans to construct the the Mexican capital's new airport adjacent to their town, fearing that the construction will result in their displacement. On Tuesday, protesters sought to pressure President-Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador to commit to his campaign promise to cancel the airport's construction (the president-elect has since vacillated on the promise). In this photo, a woman holds a machete and marches in front of a banner bearing the image of Emiliano Zapata, a hero of the Mexican Revolution who famously sought to return land rights to indigenous people in the country's south.

People from San Salvador Atenco, a town outside of Mexico City, protest the construction of a new international airport on August 14th, 2018. For years, residents of the semi-rural town have fought against plans to construct the the Mexican capital's new airport adjacent to their town, fearing that the construction will result in their displacement. On Tuesday, protesters sought to pressure President-Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador to commit to his campaign promise to cancel the airport's construction (the president-elect has since vacillated on the promise). In this photo, a woman holds a machete and marches in front of a banner bearing the image of Emiliano Zapata, a hero of the Mexican Revolution who famously sought to return land rights to indigenous people in the country's south.

Viewfinder is Pacific Standard's daily photo feature, showcasing one image from the news.

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