Families Prepare Glorieta del Ahuehuete for Day of Remembrance
Mexico City, August 23, 2026 – Families and collectives of missing persons gathered today at the Glorieta del Ahuehuete, also known as the Glorieta de los Desaparecidos, to conduct a cleaning day. This preparatory effort is aimed at creating a space for a new, large-scale placement of search flyers for their loved ones.
Upcoming Placement on International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances
The cleaning activity comes ahead of August 30, a significant date globally recognized as the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances. On this day, organizers plan to affix around 2,300 flyers, each bearing photographs and vital information of missing individuals, to the fences of the roundabout.
Jorge Verástegui, who has been searching for his brother Antonio and nephew Antonio de Jesús since 2009, emphasized the dual purpose of the initiative. “The flyers will be placed again on the fences of the Glorieta de los Desaparecidos as an act of memory and a demand for the continuation of search efforts,” Verástegui stated.
Volunteers Participate in Cleaning Efforts
Approximately 50 volunteers participated in today’s cleaning, diligently removing old paper flyers from previous interventions. They used wire brushes, sponges, water, and spatulas to ensure the fences were ready for the upcoming display.
Seeking Dialogue with Zapatista Army of National Liberation
In addition to the memorial activities, family members of the missing are seeking a public dialogue with members of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). This comes as the EZLN prepares for an upcoming visit to Mexico City and has expressed interest in meeting with searching families.
Families intend to send a formal letter proposing a meeting at the Glorieta de los Desaparecidos, a location they consider a crucial reference point for memory and struggle. This initiative highlights the ongoing efforts by families to gain support and visibility for their cause from various sectors of society.
