List of anti-monuments in Mexico

Anti-monuments are installed in Mexico (antimonumentos in Spanish) during popular protests to recall a tragic event or to maintain the claim for justice to which federal and local governments have failed to provide a satisfactory response in the eyes of the complainant.^[1] These are erected for issues related to forced disappearances, massacres, femicides and other forms of violence against women, or any other act of violence.

Because most of the anti-monuments are unnamed anonymous works, and the press refers to them simply as "Antimonumentos", some names are unofficial and use recognizable elements to distinguish them from other similar works.

The first anti-monument in the country features a "Plus 43" and a "Because they were taken alive, we want them alive!" slogan written in Spanish in reference to the 43 students that were kidnapped as they were traveling to commemorate the anniversary of the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre. Six other students were killed that night.^[2] In 2018, a concrete turtle whose shell contains 43 little turtles and whose limbs bear the names of the students, was built in front of the anti-monument.^[3]

The first anti-monument has a 49 and the letters "ABC" in reference to the name of the daycare where the 49 children were killed. The daycare was owned by the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).^[4] Two years later, multiple bronze statues of children's shoes with the names of the victims were placed next to it.^[5] In 2020, a second andti-monuemnt features 49 white crosses were installed in front of the Secretariat of the Interior Offices.^[6]

David Ramírez and Miguel Ángel Rivera were kidnapped on 5 January 2012. Although the ransom payment was made, both were not returned and their whereabouts or conditions are unknown.^[4] The plaque calls for padlocks to be placed as a sign of protest.^[7]

Erercted to honor the 65 miners that died during the 2006 Pasta de Conchos mine disaster. The main anti-monument features a 65 number that supports a plus symbol. The symbol has written a legend that says "With one voice, rescue now!", as well as the names of all the victims of the collapse.^[2] The following year, behind the structure, a cage with 63 helmets with the names of the victims that were not rescued was placed; these are buried with charcoal lumps.^[8]

In honor to the victims of the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre. The anti-monument features a white dove and a plaque that blames the federal government and the Mexican Armed Forces for the massacre.^[2]

The first Spanish, an anti-monument installed to demand justice for the victims of gender violence and femicides in the country, was the Antimonumenta in Mexico City. It was placed by mothers and relatives of victims of feminicide, during the march #8M for the 2019 International Women's Day.^[9] Since then, multiple Spanish have been installed throughout the country.

To honor the victims killed during the New's Divine fire. It was installed in memory of those killed during the event.^[27]

Samir Flores Soberanes opposed the construction of a federal hydroelectric plant in his community. He was killed the day after he attended an assembly and challenged the accuracy of the information being presented, describing the consultation as a simulation and accusing the federal government of promoting a disinformation campaign. One year after his assassination, a bust was placed in the school named after him in the community of Amilcingo, Morelos.^[28] The next day, after a related march in Mexico City, a replica of the bust was placed in the Zócalo square.^[29]

Erected in honor of the 72 migrants murdered during the 2010 San Fernando massacre. It was installed to remember that migration is a human right.^[30][31]

To honor the victims of the 1971 Corpus Christi massacre. The anti-monument features a red V and phrases that blame the federal government of Mexico for the massacre.^[32]

Disappearances and missing person cases in Mexico are frequent. The first related anti-monuemnt was installed with the permission of the Puebla City Council, residents placed photographs of several missing persons on trees in the streets of the historic center. The next day, the photographs were removed to place Christmas decorations.^[33]

The second anti-monument was the Glorieta de las y los Desaparecidos in Mexico City, installed by collectives that sought to make visible the numbers of missing persons. The anti-monument was removed by the city government but was reinstalled days later.^[34]

To visibilize the impact to the Mayan jungle and its human and animal population, it was installed by environmentalists protesting against the Mayan Train, which passes through several jungle zones. The plaque reads, "Here we put on record that in the name of 'development' and 'progress' the Mayan Train was built, evicting people, extinguishing species, devastating the jungle, and threatening ecosystems. Only you, in the future, will be able to say if it was worth it..."^[35]

Giovanni López died while in police custody on 4 or 5 May 2020. A few days later, on 25 May, George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, United States, in similar circumstances sparking national and international protests. López's brother released his arrest video a month later, which caused hundreds of young people to gather in downtown Guadalajara on 5 June. The local government arrested multiple people that day

Police officers arrested and disappeared demonstrators for hours. The original anti-monument was installed adjacent to the Antimonumenta on the third anniversary of what protesters dubbed as "El Halconazo Jaliciense". The sculpture was removed by the government the day it was installed. A month later, protesters created a removable replica.^[36]

To honor the eople who were killed or disappeared by the government of Mexico in their struggle to establish a communist government in the country. Placed during the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre.^[37]

Installed during the International Transgender Day of Visibility, in front of the municipal palace of Aguascalientes City.^[38]

Installed during the tenth anniversary of a Grupo México mining company dumping 40,000 cubic meters of acidified copper sulfate leachate into the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers.^[39]

Similar sculptures have been installed claiming for justice in similar topics, although their installers have not dubbed them as anti-monuments.

#FueMorena (lit. 'Was MORENA') was a temporary political stunt installed by members of the National Action Party (PAN) on the eve of the first anniversary of the Mexico City Metro overpass collapse, where 26 people died. It was installed in front of the Antimonumento +43 at the Esquina de la Información, where Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida Juárez and Avenida Bucareli converge. The politicians described it as an antimonumento and they blamed the National Regeneration Movement Party (MORENA) for the collapse and the lack of justice surrounding the investigations.^[40]

The installation received negative criticism from activists who have placed anti-monuments, considering it disrespectful and an appropriation of their movement for political purposes,^[41] adding, "[t]o them, as to all political parties, we demand respect, that you refrain from looking at the big debts just to win votes. As long as you do not resolve them, you are accomplices of impunity".^[42] MORENA politicians called their PAN counterparts "opportunistic vultures" and called the installation an act of politicking.^[43]

Media and activists consider it the precursor of the Antimonumenta, it was installed to visibilize femicide in Ciudad Juárez.^[44][45]

Installed at the Monumento a los Niños Héroes traffic circle in Guadalajara, it was transformed by families of missing persons and activists into a site of public remembrance and protest. The space contains photographs, names, and messages referring to people who have disappeared in Mexico, and it serves as a meeting point for demonstrations, vigils, and collective mourning.^[46]

The Memorial to Victims of Violence in Mexico was created by the Mexican federal government to honor and publicly recognize people who have died or disappeared as a result of violence in the country, particularly in the context of the drug war and organized crime. The memorial was intended as a space for remembrance and reflection, where victims could be acknowledged and their names commemorated.^[47]

• Media related to Antimonumento at Wikimedia Commons