The death of Jesus Alain Vasquez Perez, a 20-year-old student at the Mactumatza teacher training school in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, has sparked widespread outrage and protests. Vasquez died on May 15 after falling from a pickup truck that was being pursued by police. The incident has raised questions about police violence and accountability in Mexico, particularly in the context of student protests.
According to surveillance footage, the pickup truck was being chased by two police cruisers when Vasquez fell from the vehicle. The police have denied responsibility for his death, suggesting that the students’ reckless driving was to blame. However, eyewitness accounts and testimony from students contradict this narrative, alleging that police were aggressive and fired shots during the chase.
The Mactumatza school, part of a network of government-funded normal schools, has a long tradition of activism and protest. Students at these schools often block highways, occupy toll booths, and commandeer local buses to draw attention to their demands. Professor Tanalis Padilla, a historian at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, notes that the public reaction to such protests has been mixed, with some people supporting the students and others expressing annoyance.
The Ayotzinapa case, in which 43 students from a rural teachers’ college disappeared in 2014, is a notable example of the violent clashes between police and normalistas. The case garnered widespread outrage and support for normalistas in Mexico and abroad. Father Filiberto Velazquez Florencio, a lawyer and human rights advocate, believes that the lack of accountability for police actions is a common thread in these cases.
“We demand justice,” said Paula, a student protester who asked to remain anonymous. “There is nothing anybody can do to bring our friend back, but meanwhile, we demand justice for his death.” The students have been holding protests, both in Tuxtla Gutierrez and in Mexico City, to push for greater accountability.
Maria, another student protester, believes that the investigation has been incomplete and that law enforcement officials have not taken into account the testimony of students who witnessed the incident. “They haven’t heard our testimony. They haven’t considered the evidence that we have, from being at the scene and seeing his body,” Maria said.
The Chiapas state Attorney General’s office has ruled out gunfire as the cause of death, but it is investigating whether officers used their firearms during the high-speed chase. Vasquez’s classmates remember him as a talented basketball player and a dedicated teacher who stayed up all night to prepare lessons for his students. “He was just at a protest,” Maria said, recalling the moment she learned of Vasquez’s death. “I was in shock. This was completely unexpected.”
As the investigation continues, the students are demanding justice and accountability for Vasquez’s death. They are calling for greater transparency and action to address the systemic issues that lead to police violence and student protests.
