President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will not use repression against protests by the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) in Mexico City [1].
The decision comes as the administration seeks to maintain public order and avoid violent escalations while the country prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1].
Speaking on June 3, 2026 [1], Sheinbaum said that her government would not fall into provocations or evict the CNTE "plantón" — a protest camp — located in the historic center of the capital [2, 3]. She said that while the government will not use force, it will implement containment measures, such as the installation of fences in the historic center, to manage the crowds [1].
Sheinbaum distanced her administration from the violent tactics of previous eras, saying, "No somos Díaz Ordaz" [3]. This refers to the former president associated with the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, signaling a commitment to a non-violent approach to civil unrest [3].
Regarding the specific demands of the teachers' union, the president said that the government will not fall into repression before the World Cup [1]. She said that the state will not engage in direct confrontation but will continue to facilitate communication between the union and the government [3].
"El diálogo con el magisterio continuará a través de la Segob y la SEP," Sheinbaum said [3]. This indicates that negotiations will remain the responsibility of the Secretariat of the Interior (Segob), and the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) [3].
The president also accused the CNTE of acting similarly to the "ultraderecha" or far-right in its tactics [4]. Despite this criticism, she said that the priority is to avoid a violent response that could disrupt the national image or public safety during the upcoming international sporting event [1].
“"No somos Díaz Ordaz"”
The administration's refusal to forcibly remove the CNTE protests suggests a strategic calculation to avoid domestic instability and negative international press during the 2026 World Cup. By referencing Díaz Ordaz, Sheinbaum is attempting to frame her governance as a departure from Mexico's history of state-led violence, though the use of physical containment fences shows a continued effort to isolate protesters from the city's primary tourist and administrative hubs.
