Journalists Assaulted and Arrested by Mexico City Police During Human Rights Protest

September 09, 2024 – Mexico – 

Mexico City police violently disrupted a human rights protest in Xochimilco, resulting in the assault and arrest of multiple journalists. The protest was organized in support of Otomí Indigenous activist Hortensia Telésforo and was met with force from law enforcement after tensions escalated between demonstrators and unidentified armed individuals. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and several rights groups, at least four journalists were directly affected by the police crackdown.

Among those detained were Penélope Estefanía Galicia Argumedo of Radio Zapote and freelance reporter Elizabeth Díaz. Both were arrested while covering the demonstration and held for several hours before being released without formal charges. During the same incident, freelance journalist José Meza and another unnamed reporter were physically assaulted by police officers, sustaining injuries. Witnesses also reported that an attorney associated with Article 19, a press freedom organization, had their phone seized while documenting the arrests.

CPJ and Article 19 strongly condemned the violence, calling it an alarming reflection of ongoing state hostility toward journalists covering protests. Jan-Albert Hootsen, CPJ’s Mexico representative, criticized the authorities for failing to uphold constitutional protections for the press, stating that the repression of social protests and the use of force against media workers reflects a pattern of impunity.

This incident is part of a broader climate of press repression in Mexico, where journalists are frequently attacked, detained, or threatened while covering civil unrest. Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with over 100 journalists killed or disappeared in the last decade. Despite the establishment of a federal protection mechanism in 2012, implementation remains inadequate.

Human rights organizations have urged the Mexican government to investigate the Xochimilco incident, ensure accountability for the abuses, and provide guarantees that journalists can safely report on public demonstrations. Without structural reform and decisive action, attacks like these threaten the future of free expression and the public’s right to information in Mexico.

Reference – 

Mexico: End police violence against journalists and activists

Mexico City police arrest two journalists at human rights protest

Mexico City police arrest 2 journalists at human rights protest – Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)