Breathe
By Melissa Ayala
This Sunday, the city's attention was focused on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, not because of the Formula 1 engines, but because of an act of protest that was received as a response to the repression. Workers of the Judicial Power had planned a peaceful demonstration against the reform to the federal judicial power; however, early on Sunday, two female judges were encapsulated by more than seventy elements of the Secretariat of Citizen Security.
The two judges were with a megaphone, a banner with slogans and a flag and instead of being allowed to protest, they were quickly surrounded by the police and even though they pointed out that the constitution protected them and that they had the right to protest and demonstrate, the police elements did not stop surrounding them, depriving them of their freedom for no reason whatsoever.
In view of this situation, the workers of the Judicial Branch filed an urgent injunction, which was promptly granted. The judge granted the suspension outright, ordering that the protesters could leave the encapsulation immediately. This is a clear example of how the judicial system can be a counterweight to the arbitrariness of power and underscores the importance of judicial independence in times of crisis.
The right to protest is essential to the functioning of any democracy. This right allows individuals and groups to express their opinions and demands to the State. However, in this case, such acts have an inhibiting effect.
The use of police force against protesters is not only a violation of rights, but acts as a powerful mechanism of social control that seeks to silence dissent. This systematic repression, which manifests itself through tactics such as excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and group encapsulation, creates an environment of terror that inhibits citizens from exercising their fundamental right to protest. This repressive approach not only erodes confidence in democratic institutions, but also fosters a culture of fear that weakens society's ability to organize and defend its rights. Thus, the right to protest becomes a privilege reserved for those who do not challenge the status quo.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has emphasized that the right to free demonstration and peaceful protest are essential elements of the functioning and the very existence of the democratic system, as well as a channel that allows individuals and different groups of society to express their demands, dissent and complain about the government, their particular situation, as well as access to and compliance with political rights and economic, social, cultural and environmental rights. In addition, the Mexico City Constitution establishes that social protest is an individual and collective right and that criminalization of social protest and public demonstration is prohibited. This right should be a fundamental pillar of democratic life, but in practice, it seems to be violated.
Silence in the face of these situations is not a viable option even if one is in favor of reforming the judiciary. Democracy is built with the active participation of all, and it is vital that the right to protest be respected as part of this process. At this crucial moment, it is necessary to reaffirm that the right to protest is not only fundamental, but an indicator of the health of our democracy. We cannot allow the voices that demand justice and dignity to be silenced.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
Comments ()