Protesting teachers toppled towering statues of football players on Mexico City’s main promenade Tuesday and threatened growing protests before the World Cup if the government does not respond to their labour demands.
A dissident wing of the national teachers’ union, CNTE, called the protest and is also threatening mass demonstrations at the opening of the World Cup on June 11.
Five-meter-high, plastic statues of football players from around the world are located on the city’s tree-shaded Paseo de la Reforma avenue, which is lined by skyscrapers.
The protesters brought down three statues with ropes, stripping off their uniforms and burning them.
“Long live the CNTE,” read red graffiti scrawled onto a nude mannequin. “If there isn’t a solution, the ball won’t roll,” another read.
Police dispersed another CNTE march on Monday with tear-gas and sound grenades close to the famous Zocalo plaza, where the “Fan fest” for the World Cup
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