Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a
transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
Why were the students opposed to the Olympics? The article talks about the students protesting the Olympics, but doesn't explain anything. The related
Mexican Movement of 1968 article notes that many Mexicans opposed the Mexican government's lavish spending to build Olympic facilities, but by the time of the massacre — just ten days before the Games began — presumably the construction was complete or nearly complete, and the money couldn't have been un-spent.
Nyttend (
talk) 10:41, 4 October 2023 (UTC)reply
According to
this article, the students were protesting against police and military repression - a previous riot had been quelled by the use of a
bazooka. The context is the
protests of 1968.
Alansplodge (
talk) 12:08, 4 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Repeal of Article 145 which outlawed any political activity which could be described as "social dissolution"
Abolition of Mexico City's Granaderos riot police
Dismissal of the Mexico City chief of police
Compensation for those injured in previous riots
Holding to account those responsible for police brutality
The forthcoming Olympics were the government's pretext for aggressive repression of the demonstrations.
Alansplodge (
talk) 12:31, 4 October 2023 (UTC)reply
The article quotes a slogan of the protesters: ¡No queremos olimpiadas, queremos revolución! ("We don't want Olympics, we want revolution"). Does the article address this at all, and explain how it fits with their other demands? I don't have JSTOR access anymore.
Nyttend (
talk) 18:27, 4 October 2023 (UTC)reply
Hosting the Olympics was an ostentatious prestige project. The slogan, not itself a demand, protested the political status quo by attacking the priorities of the government. I think it needs no further explanation. --
Lambiam 09:07, 5 October 2023 (UTC)reply