Category: News

At least 21 people fell ill after attending a government-sponsored International Women’s Day breakfast in the southern Morelos municipality of Tlaquiltenango on March 8, with preliminary reports suggesting food may have been contaminated with a fungicide.

The event was organized by the municipal government of Tlaquiltenango, led by Mayor Enrique Alonso Plascencia of the PRI-PAN-PRD-RSP alliance, along with the local DIF social services agency and the municipal Instancia de la Mujer (Women’s Office). The day began with a march for public employees and residents, followed by a communal breakfast served at a covered sports court in the town center.

Chilaquiles, Bread, Coffee, and Water Served

Organizers offered chilaquiles, bread, coffee, and water to dozens of attendees — most of them women who came with family members. Hours later, participants began reporting vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blurred vision.

Those affected sought treatment at the IMSS clinic in neighboring Zacatepec and at the Hospital General Ernesto Meana San Román in Jojutla. Medical staff identified at least 21 patients with similar symptoms, consistent with a food poisoning outbreak. Two patients were reported in serious condition and remained under observation.

Doctors noted signs including intestinal activity, pain in the upper and middle abdomen, and along the colon. Negative results for appendicitis and kidney-related indicators helped rule out other conditions. The working diagnosis was gastroenteritis and colitis of unspecified origin.

Authorities said early indications pointed to possible chemical contamination — specifically, a fungicide — though no official confirmation had been issued at time of reporting.

A Wider Pattern in Mexico

Food poisoning incidents at public gatherings are not uncommon in Mexico. The country’s health secretariat reports roughly 500,000 cases of food-borne illness annually, according to the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA — National Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality Service). Outbreaks have been recorded at graduation dinners, weddings, and community events across multiple states in recent years, with bacterial contamination the most frequently identified cause.

Chemical contamination is less common but does occur, particularly when agricultural products or equipment are improperly stored near food supplies. Fungicides and pesticides used in rural Mexican communities can become hazardous when they make contact with food or cooking surfaces. In this case, investigators had not yet determined how a fungicide may have entered the food chain.

The incident came on the same day that International Women’s Day marches took place across Mexico, with cities including Mérida seeing large public demonstrations. The Tlaquiltenango gathering was one of many municipal-level events organized to mark the occasion.

Investigation Under Way

Health authorities were continuing their investigation at the time of this report, and no arrests or administrative actions had been announced in connection with the outbreak. Officials from the DIF municipal system, represented by Irene Vallejo Plascencia, were among those connected to the event’s organization.

The two patients in serious condition remained hospitalized. The condition of the remaining 19 was not specified in initial reports.

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Key Facts

• At least 21 people were hospitalized after a Women’s Day breakfast in Tlaquiltenango, Morelos, on March 8, 2026
• Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blurred vision
• Two patients remained in serious condition as of initial reports
• Attendees were treated at IMSS Zacatepec and Hospital General Ernesto Meana San Román in Jojutla
• Preliminary reports suggested possible fungicide contamination; no official cause had been confirmed
• The breakfast was organized by the Tlaquiltenango municipal government, DIF, and the local Women’s Office
• Mexico reports approximately 500,000 food-borne illness cases annually

Source: Diario de Yucatán / El Universal

Masked demonstrators set fire to state police officers outside the Government Palace in Campeche during an International Women’s Day march on Sunday, leaving two officers with burns and triggering a chaotic police response that swept up at least 11 people — including peaceful protesters and, reportedly, minors

The attack came as marchers were dispersing following a rally in the state capital. According to local reports, hooded individuals approached a line of Policía Estatal (State Police) officers guarding the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), using an aerosol can and a lighter to ignite the officers. Two female officers suffered burn injuries.

Campeche Gov. Layda Sansores condemned the attack in sharp terms, calling it a “criminal act” carried out against women officers who were simply doing their jobs. She also suggested political motives were at play. “Those involved have already been identified and some are linked to political groups,” she said, adding that formal complaints would be filed and that the law would be applied.

Arrests Draw Accusations of Overreach

What followed the attack drew as much attention as the attack itself. Police pursued the group responsible for roughly 300 meters to Parque de Las Banderas, near the Government Palace, where they made at least 11 arrests. But witnesses and videos circulating on social media suggested the dragnet went well beyond those responsible.

Accounts from women present at the park — many of whom say they were protesting peacefully and at a distance from the violence — describe the scene as a “hunt.” Video footage showed riot police arriving on scene, officers surrounding a pregnant woman, and police attacking a vehicle carrying women trying to leave the area. Eyewitnesses said there was “no distinction” in who was detained.

The incident added a complicated layer to an already fraught day. In neighboring Mérida, the 8M march ended peacefully, a deliberate outcome city officials had worked toward. This year, Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada took the unusual step of leaving the Palacio Municipal unbarricaded — a departure from previous years when metal fencing was erected around government buildings as a precaution. As Yucatán Magazine reported, it was a calculated gamble that paid off, with no major confrontations reported. The buildings were not along the route of the march, with damage mainly contained to the Paseo Montejo’s monuments.

A National Day of Mobilization

The events in Campeche unfolded against a backdrop of nationwide demonstrations. Tens of thousands of women marched through Mexico City and across the country on Sunday in what has become the largest political protest event in a country where human rights advocates say gender-based violence often goes ignored or unpunished.

In Mexico City, one of the main avenues turned into a sea of purple and green — colors representing justice and reproductive rights — as thousands of women marched demanding an end to gender-based discrimination by the country’s institutions.

The scale of participation reflects the urgency many women feel. In Mexico, about seven out of every 10 women have experienced physical, sexual, emotional, or economic violence, according to several studies.

The 8M marches have grown increasingly charged in recent years. In 2019, activism moved into the streets after reports that police in Mexico City raped a woman, recasting March 8 as an organizing deadline and making it a focal point for coordinated action. Property damage and clashes with police have become recurring features, particularly in cities where the relationship between feminist movements and law enforcement is deeply adversarial.

In Mexico City this year, the National Palace had been surrounded with metal barriers up to 2.5 meters tall ahead of the march. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the barriers were intended to prevent confrontation between officers and demonstrators.

Political Fallout

The events in Campeche are likely to fuel debate on multiple fronts — over the use of fire as a protest tactic, the rights of demonstrators to march without mass arrest, and how authorities should respond when violence breaks out within a larger peaceful demonstration.

Governor Sansores, who has not shied from controversy during her tenure, made clear she intends to pursue those responsible. Whether the arrested individuals include those who carried out the attack — or primarily bystanders caught in the sweep — was not confirmed by authorities as of Sunday night.

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Key Facts

• The incident occurred March 8, 2026, during the 8M International Women’s Day march in Campeche city
• Masked individuals used an aerosol can and lighter to set fire to state police officers guarding the Palacio de Gobierno
• Two female officers were hospitalized with burn injuries
• At least 11 people were arrested near Parque de Las Banderas, about 300 meters from the Government Palace
• Witnesses and video footage allege peaceful protesters and minors were caught in the police sweep
• Gov. Layda Sansores called the attack a “criminal act” and said those involved have been identified, some linked to political groups
• Marches took place across Mexico on March 8, with tens of thousands participating in Mexico City alone
• In Mérida, the 8M march ended without incident

Source: Diario de Yucatán; CBC News

One of Mexico’s largest annual protests unfolded Sunday in Mexico City, with more than 120,000 women flooding the streets to mark International Women’s Day and demand an end to gender-based violence. The demonstration, widely known as 8M, drew participants from across the capital, who converged on Paseo de la Reforma before marching toward the Zócalo, the city’s historic central plaza.

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada praised the event as a testament to the capital’s political character. “This city has demonstrated, once again, that it is a capital of rights and freedoms, where any expression and demonstration is fully respected and guaranteed,” she posted on social media. “More than 120,000 women took to the streets of our city peacefully, in a day that concluded without major incidents.”

An All-Female Police Deployment

Security arrangements reflected the march’s scale. The Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (Mexico City Public Safety Secretariat) deployed 400 female officers from the Ateneas unit — a specialized all-women police corps — who accompanied the march equipped only with helmets, shields, and some fire extinguishers. No arrests of protesters were made.

The march began gathering from around 10 a.m. at the Glorieta de Amajac and other staging points, with the final contingents clearing the route by 8:30 p.m. Medical crews from the emergency response unit ERUM (Escuadrón de Rescate y Urgencias Médicas, or Rescue and Medical Emergency Squadron) attended to 90 people during the day — mostly minor issues — including 14 police officers.

Brugada singled out the participating officers for recognition. “When women raise their voices, society advances, and when their rights are guaranteed, justice is strengthened,” she said.

Minor Incidents at the Margins

Not everything was entirely without incident. Police identified a masked group, unconnected to the march itself, attempting to damage a building on Avenida Juárez. Officers encircled the group near Calle 5 de Mayo and confiscated several tools, including hammers and a pickaxe. Around 20 men — described by authorities as outsiders to the demonstration — broke windows at a Mexico City government building. Eight were detained; five were referred to the attorney general’s office, and three were sent before a civic court judge.

Damage to nearby businesses was limited to broken glass at four commercial properties. Marchers themselves intervened to push the disruptive group away from the main procession.

A Movement Rooted in Urgency

The 8M march has become Mexico’s most significant annual political demonstration. The driving force is a femicide crisis that has persisted for years. An average of 10 women are killed per day in Mexico, according to the Washington Office on Latin America and other advocacy organizations. Only one in 10 cases involving femicide results in a conviction. In the weeks before this year’s march, two women who attended the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos were reported missing and later found dead, adding fresh urgency to a movement that has been building for years.

721 femicides were registered in Mexico in 2025 alone — and the real figure is likely far higher. In 2024, 3,601 women were reported missing in the country, a number that has been rising steadily.

The marches have grown steadily in size and intensity over the past decade. In 2024, over 180,000 people rallied in Mexico City, denouncing rampant gender violence. Participation this year, at 120,000, reflected a somewhat smaller but still massive turnout in the capital, with parallel demonstrations held in cities across the country.

Beyond Mexico City

Protests took place nationally, from Guadalajara to Cancún to Mérida. Last year’s 8M marches across Mexico brought together thousands of women in Yucatán alone, with participants carrying signs reading “No means No” and “We want to stay alive.”

The issue has reached the highest levels of government. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in 2024 as Mexico’s first female president, acknowledged Sunday that more work remains. Her administration has pointed to a decline in femicide numbers and updates to investigation protocols, though advocates say impunity remains the central obstacle.

For the women who marched Sunday, the message was the same as it has been for years: they want to be safe, they want justice, and they are not going away.

Read more on gender violence in Mexico from CBC News.

Quick Facts

• The March 8 march in Mexico City drew an estimated 120,000 participants, according to city authorities
• 400 female officers from the Ateneas police unit provided security, armed only with helmets and shields
• Eight men, described as outsiders to the march, were detained for property damage
• 90 people received medical attention during the event; all cases were minor
• An average of 10 women per day are killed in Mexico due to gender-based violence
• 721 femicides were officially recorded in Mexico in 2025, with the true figure believed to be higher
• Only about 1 in 10 femicide cases in Mexico results in a criminal conviction

Source: Excélsior

February 29 marked what would have been the 106th birthday of Román Piña Chan, one of Mexico’s greatest archaeologists. Though Piña Chan passed away in 2001, tributes to his life prove that he is still very much remembered, admired, and even loved. 

Piña Chan spent more than 50 years exploring ancient sites, teaching students, and writing books about pre-Hispanic cultures. His work, perhaps more than that of any other single individual, helped shape what we know today about Mesoamerica.

Piña Chan was born in Campeche. His family did not have much money. As a teenager, he worked teaching people to read and write. In 1942, when he was 22, he saw a poster at the National School of Anthropology and History in Mexico City about scholarships. He decided to try anthropology.

He started in physical anthropology, but soon realized he preferred studying the things ancient people made and switched to archaeology. His first field work was in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán. He then worked at Uxmal and Jaina in the Yucatán Peninsula.

As a Campechan, he is remembered with particular appreciation in his home state. “Piña Chan was one of those once-in-a-generation geniuses. His love for his work and commitment to Mexico’s heritage, combined with his great intellect, made him a real powerhouse. But aside from straightforward admiration, he is also remembered with great affection by those who knew him and had the opportunity to work with him,” said Dr. Iván Urdapilleta Caamal of Campeche’s State University. 

A Career of Discovery

Piña Chan worked at more than 70 archaeological sites across Mexico, a staggering accomplishment that remains a record to this day. 

Between 1945 and 1960, he worked at Chalcatzingo and Atlihuayán in Morelos, at Tlapacoya in the State of Mexico, and at Comalcalco and along the Grijalva River in Tabasco. In the 1960s, he explored Mulchic and the Cenote at Chichén Itzá, La Ventilla at Teotihuacan, and Cuicuilco near Mexico City.

One of his most important early projects was Tlatilco, a site in the State of Mexico where he excavated hundreds of burials. This work became his 1951 thesis, and he received his degree in archaeology that same year. Later, he earned a doctorate from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

“Working with Piña Chan at Edzná was one of the highlights of my career,” said American Archaeologist Linda Lindholm during an interview with Yucatán Magazine. “He was a very interesting man, but also tremendously devoted to his work, a real role model for all of us youngsters at the time”, continued Lindonholm. 

Piña Chan’s Most Important Contributions

Piña Chan did not just dig up objects. He tried to understand what they meant. He combined what he found in the ground with what he read in old historical documents.

He is known for his work on the Preclassic period—the time before 200 BCE, when early civilizations were forming. His studies of sites in the Valley of Mexico and the Gulf Coast helped define this era.

Piña Chan also studied Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent god. In his 1977 book, he argued that this god began as a water deity. He believed the cult of Quetzalcóatl originated at Xochicalco and was later  carried to other places, including the great city of Tula.

Teaching and Writing

Piña Chan began teaching at the National School of Anthropology and History in 1953. He taught there for the rest of his life. He also taught at universities in Mexico and abroad, including Southern Illinois University Carbondale. At many of these schools, he helped start new courses and degree programs.

He wrote more than 20 books and hundreds of articles. His most important works include Tlatilco (1958), Culturas y ciudades de los mayas (1959), Quetzalcóatl, Serpiente Emplumada (1977), and El lenguaje de las piedras glíficas olmecas y zapotecas (1993).

Recognition and Awards

Piña Chan received several awards. In 1985, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) named him Researcher Emeritus and gave him its Gold Medal for Academic Services. In 1994, he won the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes in the History, Social Sciences, and Philosophy category — one of Mexico’s highest honors.

Later Years and Legacy

In September 1984, Piña Chan suffered a serious accident at the Becán site in Campeche. He fell from a building and broke a vertebra in his back. He spent nearly a year in bed. But even while recovering, he continued his research.

Román Piña Chan died on April 10, 2001, in Mexico City from a stroke. He was 81 years old. He predeceased his wife, archaeologist Beatriz Barba, who died 20 years later.

His legacy continues in several ways. Since 1996, the Simposio Román Piña Chan has been held each year in Mexico City. Scholars gather to discuss new research on pre-Hispanic cultures.

His personal archive, the “Acervo Román Piña Chán,” contains his manuscripts, drawings, and photographs from 1945 to 2001. The collection shows how Latin American archaeology developed during the second half of the 20th century.