Mexican women celebrate 3 years of gathering on colonial square!

For more than 100 years, a statue of Christof Columbus has marred the plaza, but in 2021, Las Mujeres que Luchan occupied and renamed the roundabout to focus on the struggles of Mexican women. Since then, the square has been home to rallies and protests. Various political struggles are honored and commemorated in this square. The Mujeres que Luchan is a network of very diverse movements and struggles: from searchers for disappeared persons, groups working against feminicides, for political prisoners to the defense of territory of original admirers.

On the anniversary itself, the organization placed a commemorative stone and changed signage. With the celebration of the square’s 3rd year of regular occupation, the women hope to increase the pressure to make the square’s name change official. Although those new name signs were taken down by the authorities after a few days, the actions in the square continue! These included an action against the state’s nalatisgheid to guarantee a non-violent life for women and an action for the right to abortion and for the release of women incarcerated because of abortion. On World Breast Cancer Day, a garland of 2,000 bras adorned the plaza to raise awareness of the extent and impact of this disease and to address failing medical policies.

The Mujeres que Luchan are taking over public spaces for their re-signification and decolonise the site occupied by Christopher Columbus to create a site of living memory, representative of the struggles of women in Mexico!

Het Actiefonds is proud to support this ongoing occupation and celebration. For all women’s rights and a decolonization of public space!