Arson at the Zócalo: Resistance Against the Feminicidal State in Mexico

Presenter(s)

Tania Domenzain Vera

Abstract or Description

The fight against feminicidio in Mexico came to the forefront of the feminist agenda in the early ‘90s. Since then, feminist collectives have approached the issue with dialogical, political and legislative rhetoric. They have organized peaceful demonstrations, filed lawsuits against the State, and created art to raise awareness about Mexico’s culture of gender-based violence.

Despite feminists' relentless efforts, the State has maintained its role in actively suppressing dissidence and providing impunity for feminicidio. As frustrations have continued to build, the feminist movement’s repertoire has become more ‘violent’ and ‘radical’. This tension culminated on March 8, 2020, when protestors set property on fire at the Zócalo plaza– the political epicenter of Mexico and a historic emblem of colonial and neoliberal violence.

Drawing from a multitude of contemporary primary sources reacting to the events of March 8, 2020, as well as from scholarly sources that discuss the history of feminist and institutional responses to the feminicidio crisis, this article examines the sociopolitical context from which the tactic of arson at the Zócalo emerged. It goes on to analyze how the intentional symbolism behind this fiery image brings visibility to the issue of feminicidio in Mexico and its perpetration at the hands of the State.