On February 24, 2023, hooded men broke into the College for Science and Humanities of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and damaged campus property while a meeting between students and the university administration was taking place.
On February 24, the university administration held a meeting with students about a petition the students had submitted on February 17. During the meeting, a group of hooded men reportedly carried out an attack on two campus buildings, including smashing windows and lighting an object on fire and throwing it into the building. Photos posted on Twitter show broken glass, desks, and other materials scattered across a floor. No injuries were reported. The motivation behind the attack is unknown as of this report.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus, targeting the nonviolent expression of ideas. In addition to the harm to university facilities, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/metropoli/encapuchados-rompen-vidrios-y-queman-objetos-en-cch-azcapotzalco-video/
https://lasillarota.com/metropoli/2023/2/25/video-asi-violentaron-encapuchados-instalaciones-del-cch-azcapotzalco-416499.html
https://lahoguera.mx/encapuchados-atentan-contra-dos-edificios-del-cch-azcapotzalco/
https://twitter.com/lasillarota/status/1629625875573403652
https://twitter.com/CCHAzcapoUNAM/status/1629305460435058689