On December 1, 2012, Enrique Peña Nieto took oath as Mexico's president amid riots and protests nearby the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro [1] as well as the Independence Angel and the Zocalo in downtown Mexico City.
Protesters wanted to let the world know about their disapproval to what they call the imposition [2] of Peña Nieto as president. Inside the House of Representatives, congressmen hung [3] [es] a huge banner that read “Consummated Imposition, Mexico is Grieving”.
Also, on Twitter netizens expressed their discontent about the inauguration using the hashtag #MexicoNoTienePresidente [4] [es] (Mexico does not have a president) which became a worldwide trending topic. They also discussed the change of command that took place at midnight, inside the Presidential Palace and away from the media.
The movement #YoSoy132 (I am 132) published on Facebook a list of protest events [5] [es] in Mexico and abroad.
Banner hanging in one of the fences that protected San Lázaro for the presidential inauguration. Picture by Flickr user Eneas (CC BY 2.0)
In Mexico City, young protesters started gathering at the Revolution Monument around 4am with the objective of occupying San Lázaro (headquarters of the House of Representatives and traditional place where presidents are sworn in) to ‘welcome’ Peña Nieto.
On the other hand, foreseeing upcoming protests, a week before the government closed [6] [es] 5 subway stations close to the compound and installed fences to cover the Legislative Palace.
The protest started moving peacefully from the Revolution Monument, but once it reached San Lazaro clashes with the police broke out. Many protesters claimed the violence was due to infiltrated agitators and bad police training to stop the aggressions. The hashtags #OcupaSanLázaro [7] [es] (Occupy San Lazaro) and #1DMx [8] [es] gathered many of the reports.
Bloguer [9] NickOps (@nickops [10]) [es] shared:
@nickops [11]: Entre consignas avanza contingente sobre Eje 1 norte para llegar a
#ocupaSanLazaro [12] http://twitpic.com/bi2mf1 [13]
@nickops [11]: Amid with chants, the protest is marching on Eje 1 North heading to
#ocupaSanLazaro [12] http://twitpic.com/bi2mf1 [13]
Political Science academic Mafer Rodríguez (@Marifeeer [14]) [es] stated:
@Marifeeer [15]: RT @felipetuiter [16]: Gas y golpes de federales en #OcupaSanLázaro [7] http://pic.twitter.com/iRR7NtMa [17] #MexicoNoTienePresidente [4] // #NosTienenMiedo [18]
@Marifeeer [15]: RT @felipetuiter: Gas and hits from federals (police) in #OcupaSanLázaro [7]http://pic.twitter.com/iRR7NtMa [17] #MexicoNoTienePresidente [4] // #NosTienenMiedo [18] (They are afraid of us)
Journalist Epigmenio Ibarra (@epigmenioibarra [19]) [es] informed:
@epigmenioibarra [20]: Tregua en #OcupaSanLazaro [21]. La PF hizo tiros directos con granadas de gas lacrimigeno. El muro fue derribado tres veces.
@epigmenioibarra [20]: Truce in #OcupaSanLazaro [21]. The police made direct shots with tear gas canisters. The wall was torn down three times.
Writer Hermano Pher (@Teotihuachango [22]) [es] reported:
@Teotihuachango [23]: Estuve en #OcupaSanLázaro [7] y de ahí fuimos al zocalo. Represión al máximo, un policía en moto intentó golpearme.
@Teotihuachango [23]: I was at #OcupaSanLázaro [7] and from there we went to the Zocalo. Repression was over the top, a policeman riding a motorcycle tried to hit me.
Blogger [24] [es] and Twitter user Pateando Piedras (@PateandoPiedras [25]) [es] asked for help to stop the violence:
@PateandoPiedras [26]: La seguridad somos todos identifica a los violentos, usa Zello el canal es 1dmx, esto va para largo. Toma agua y ayuda a los heridos
@PateandoPiedras [26]: Security is about everyone. Identify the aggressors, use Zello the 1dms channel, this will go for a while. Take water and help the wounded
User @ThinkMexican [27]shared the following video by gruporeforma [28] [es] to show the organization of the infiltrated thugs:
In this other video @PateandoPiedras [29] [es] spoke about the day's events:
At the closing of this post, clashes continue and the Zocalo has been closed [30] [es] to protesters. Several persons have been reported severely wounded [31] [es], including a man who lost an eye due to a rubber bullet shot by the police. Furthermore, many police officers were wounded and others were intoxicated with their own tear gas.