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El México Guerrero: Ayotzinapa’s Defiant Struggle for Justice

Mexico & Central America

On the night of September 26th, 2014, in the western Mexican state of Guerrero, 43 students of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College of Ayotzinapa were intercepted and shot by the municipal police of Iguala. The survivors were later abducted by a local criminal group known as Guerreros Unidos at the request of the Iguala mayor and police chief. The students’ whereabouts are still unknown four months after the attack. The following photo essay portrays the resilience of the families and classmates of the disappeared as they fight for justice during January 2015.

A classmate of the 43 disappeared students of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College looks on at the now ubiquitous missing persons poster in Tixla, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
A classmate of the 43 disappeared students of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College looks on at the now ubiquitous missing persons poster in Tixla, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
A classmate of the 43 disappeared students of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College looks on at the now ubiquitous missing persons poster in Tixla, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
43 desks with the names of the disappeared students hold portraits and flowers at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. The gymnasium at the school has transformed into the heart of the Ayotzinapa movement and a vigil for so many who wait for their sons and classmates to just come back home. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
43 desks with the names of the disappeared students hold portraits and flowers at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. The gymnasium at the school has transformed into the heart of the Ayotzinapa movement and a vigil for so many who wait for their sons and classmates to just come back home. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
43 desks with the names of the disappeared students hold portraits and flowers at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. The gymnasium at the school has transformed into the heart of the Ayotzinapa movement and a vigil for so many who wait for their sons and classmates to just come back home. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
One of many murals at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero where the missing 1st year students were studying to become rural and small village teachers. It reads, “Protesting is a right. Repression is a crime.” Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
One of many murals at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero where the missing 1st year students were studying to become rural and small village teachers. It reads, “Protesting is a right. Repression is a crime.” Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
One of many murals at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero where the missing 1st year students were studying to become rural and small village teachers. It reads, “Protesting is a right. Repression is a crime.” Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An elderly relative of one of the disappeared students prepares for an action in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. People have come together regardless of class, gender and age to mobilize against the perceived incompetence in the handling of the Ayotzinapa case by the state. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An elderly relative of one of the disappeared students prepares for an action in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. People have come together regardless of class, gender and age to mobilize against the perceived incompetence in the handling of the Ayotzinapa case by the state. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An elderly relative of one of the disappeared students prepares for an action in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. People have come together regardless of class, gender and age to mobilize against the perceived incompetence in the handling of the Ayotzinapa case by the state. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
“We rely on our neighbors for ammo and food so we can keep watch over the school until dawn.” Most community police work as farmers during the day and volunteer to patrol their communities – in this case the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College – at night. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
“We rely on our neighbors for ammo and food so we can keep watch over the school until dawn.” Most community police work as farmers during the day and volunteer to patrol their communities – in this case the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College – at night. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
“We rely on our neighbors for ammo and food so we can keep watch over the school until dawn.” Most community police work as farmers during the day and volunteer to patrol their communities – in this case the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College – at night. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
On January 12th parents of the missing 43 students marched on the 27th battalion base in Iguala, Guerrero; city where the boys were abducted. The parents believe that their sons are being held at the base by the military. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
On January 12th parents of the missing 43 students marched on the 27th battalion base in Iguala, Guerrero; city where the boys were abducted. The parents believe that their sons are being held at the base by the military. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
On January 12th parents of the missing 43 students marched on the 27th battalion base in Iguala, Guerrero; city where the boys were abducted. The parents believe that their sons are being held at the base by the military. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
The indignant parents of the 43 missing students demanded to search the barracks in Iguala, Guerrero to find their sons. After an aggressive response by military police, classmates of the disappeared commandeered a Coca Cola truck and stormed through the gate. A melee between students and military personnel then took place for nearly an hour. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
The indignant parents of the 43 missing students demanded to search the barracks in Iguala, Guerrero to find their sons. After an aggressive response by military police, classmates of the disappeared commandeered a Coca Cola truck and stormed through the gate. A melee between students and military personnel then took place for nearly an hour. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
The indignant parents of the 43 missing students demanded to search the barracks in Iguala, Guerrero to find their sons. After an aggressive response by military police, classmates of the disappeared commandeered a Coca Cola truck and stormed through the gate. A melee between students and military personnel then took place for nearly an hour. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Classmates of the 43 sit outside during a lull in their push into the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Classmates of the 43 sit outside during a lull in their push into the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Classmates of the 43 sit outside during a lull in their push into the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
After being pelted with sound grenades and smoke bombs, the rebuffed students responded by commandeering a second truck, driving it into the now closed gate and throwing beer bottles into the base. They remain defiant that their comrades are being held in the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
After being pelted with sound grenades and smoke bombs, the rebuffed students responded by commandeering a second truck, driving it into the now closed gate and throwing beer bottles into the base. They remain defiant that their comrades are being held in the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
After being pelted with sound grenades and smoke bombs, the rebuffed students responded by commandeering a second truck, driving it into the now closed gate and throwing beer bottles into the base. They remain defiant that their comrades are being held in the barracks of Iguala, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An activist walks down Reforma Avenue in Mexico City carrying a bloodied Mexican flag on the four month anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An activist walks down Reforma Avenue in Mexico City carrying a bloodied Mexican flag on the four month anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
An activist walks down Reforma Avenue in Mexico City carrying a bloodied Mexican flag on the four month anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Thousands gather in the Zocalo under the banner of “We are all Ayotzinapa.” They listen to parents of the missing 43 plead to boycott upcoming local elections in Guerrero and call for the resignation of embattled President Enrique Peña Nieto. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Thousands gather in the Zocalo under the banner of “We are all Ayotzinapa.” They listen to parents of the missing 43 plead to boycott upcoming local elections in Guerrero and call for the resignation of embattled President Enrique Peña Nieto. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Thousands gather in the Zocalo under the banner of “We are all Ayotzinapa.” They listen to parents of the missing 43 plead to boycott upcoming local elections in Guerrero and call for the resignation of embattled President Enrique Peña Nieto. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
A community police office stands guard at the gates of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College after activists, students and parents of the 43 alike have received death threats for their continued search for truth. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
A community police office stands guard at the gates of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College after activists, students and parents of the 43 alike have received death threats for their continued search for truth. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
A community police office stands guard at the gates of the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College after activists, students and parents of the 43 alike have received death threats for their continued search for truth. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Community police see a suspicious car while on patrol in Tixla, Guerrero. The Mexican state’s legitimacy and authority has dwindled to zero since the events of September 26th. People in Guerrero have responded by policing their own towns with volunteers who come from their own communities. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Community police see a suspicious car while on patrol in Tixla, Guerrero. The Mexican state’s legitimacy and authority has dwindled to zero since the events of September 26th. People in Guerrero have responded by policing their own towns with volunteers who come from their own communities. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©
Community police see a suspicious car while on patrol in Tixla, Guerrero. The Mexican state’s legitimacy and authority has dwindled to zero since the events of September 26th. People in Guerrero have responded by policing their own towns with volunteers who come from their own communities. Tomas Ayuso 2015 – Noria Research ©

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