MEXICO CITY — 1968 · Major Tragedy
The Tlatelolco Massacre
On 2 October 1968, ten days before the Olympic Games opened in Mexico City, the army and security forces opened fire on students and civilians gathered in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco. The rally, part of a student movement that had lasted months, ended in bloodshed in the evening. For years the government played down the death toll; the U.S. National Security Archive documented 44 deaths, while estimates run to several hundred. Hundreds were detained. A special prosecutor created in the 2000s tried to charge former officials with genocide, but no one was convicted. The massacre is remembered every 2 October as a symbol of state violence in Mexico.
- Date
- 1968
- Place
- Tlatelolco, Mexico, Mexico City, MX
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 19.4510, -99.1370 ↗
Timeline of Events
- July 1968Student movement begins in Mexico City.
- 2 October 1968Security forces open fire on the Tlatelolco rally.
- 12 October 1968The Olympic Games open.
- 2001Special prosecutor for past state crimes established.
- 2009Genocide charge against a former president dropped.
Sources
- National Security Archive — Tlatelolco Massacre 1968 nsarchive.gwu.edu ↗
- Mexico News Daily — Remembering the Tlatelolco student massacre mexiconewsdaily.com ↗
- Wikipedia — Tlatelolco massacre en.wikipedia.org ↗
- National Security Archive
- Mexico News Daily
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.