Anti-monument Installed in CDMX to Remember Assassinated and Disappeared Journalists
Mexico City, May 31, 2026 – Families of journalists and various collectives installed a significant anti-monument this Saturday in Mexico City. The structure, weighing nearly one ton, serves as a poignant reminder of journalists who have been killed or disappeared in the country, which Reporters Without Borders has identified as one of the most perilous places to practice journalism. The installation comes just days before the 2026 World Cup, drawing international attention to the issue.
The memorial is strategically located on Paseo de la Reforma, at the intersection known as the “Information Corner.” This area historically housed some of the nation’s leading print newsrooms and remains a highly visited spot for both domestic and international tourists.
Visibility for Violence Against the Press Ahead of the World Cup
With the World Cup inauguration scheduled for June 11, activists from groups such as Periodistas Unidos and participants of the Breach/Valdez Award for Journalism and Human Rights aim for the structure to highlight the severe challenges faced by journalism in Mexico. They hope to raise awareness among the millions of visitors expected for the global event.
According to the organizers, over 150 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000, with dozens more still missing.
“The Memory Route”: A Symbol of Open Wounds
For Jorge Verastegui, who has been searching for his brother and nephew since their disappearance in Coahuila in 2009, the presence of anti-monuments along Paseo de la Reforma, which he calls “the memory route,” signifies that many wounds in Mexico remain unhealed.
“We believe it is an important tool for social protest because it abruptly disrupts public space without asking for government permission,” Verastegui explained, emphasizing the direct and impactful nature of these memorials.
Homage to Manuel Buendía and Criticism of Disappearances
The memorial, which incorporates both natural and metallic elements, also pays tribute to Manuel Buendía, one of Mexico’s most influential journalists, who was assassinated on May 30, 1984.
María, an activist from the Hilos collective, stated that the crime against Buendía marked “the first assassination of narcopolitics.” She also expressed her hope that the anti-monument would be seen by the millions of visitors arriving for the World Cup, particularly by the international press, to amplify the message.
Anti-monuments Gain Prominence on Paseo de la Reforma
The first anti-monument on Paseo de la Reforma was the red sculpture “+43,” erected in 2015 by the families of the disappeared Ayotzinapa students. Since then, various citizen memorials have occupied emblematic spaces in the capital, including the “Glorieta de las Mujeres,” which has become a symbol of the feminist struggle and demands for justice in Mexico.
The installation of this new anti-monument underscores the ongoing struggle for press freedom and human rights in Mexico, serving as a powerful and permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by journalists in their pursuit of truth.
Source: https://enfoquenoticias.com.mx/nacional/cdmx/instalan-antimonumento-en-cdmx-para-recordar-a-periodistas-asesinados-y-desaparecidos/
