# Anti-monuments in Mexico

In Mexico, an antimonumento (Spanish for 'anti-monument') is a structure that is traditionally installed during popular protests. They are installed to recall a tragic event or to maintain the claim for justice to which governments have failed to provide a satisfactory response in the eyes of the complainant. Many of these are erected for issues related to forced disappearances, massacres, femicides and other forms of violence against women, or any other act of violence.

## Concept

The term anti-monument finds its genealogy in the reflections of James E. Young. After World War II, Young looked at "those devices of memory that do not seek to glorify national glory but to do a living memory work through the experiences of the victims", in contrast to the traditional monuments that exalted nationalist heroism. In Latin America, anti-monuments emerged as a way of dealing through the arts with "the violence of the State, as in the cases of Nazism and Latin American dictatorships".
In Mexico, anti-monuments have emerged as protest art and a rejection of the state. If traditional monuments are usually installed by the state to last and represent official positions, the anti-monument has the opposite function which "does not imply a denial of the importance of monuments". That is, it tries to remember those victims who did not achieve justice so that "their cases do not fall into oblivion". Thus, according to anthropologist Alfonso Díaz Tovar, the anti-monuments arise in this way to "deconstruct" the "official positions through an appropriation of public space". The anti-monuments have also been interpreted as "a new way of dealing with the new role of memory". According to the authors of the Antimonumento +43, the first anti-monument, they decided to use the term antimonumento because they considered an error to name it a monumento, as those refer to the past and they did not want the Iguala mass kidnapping to be forgotten. Even though they considered calling it contramonumento at some point, they agreed with the name antimonumento instead.$^{:18}$

## Cause and implications

Mexico, in addition to having one of the highest crime rates in the world, also is a country where nine out of ten reported crimes are left unpunished. As a result, anti-monuments have emerged as a way to remember the victims and prevent their cases from falling into oblivion. For Rosa Salazar, a human rights, communication, and ICT Laboratory coordinator, anti-monuments have a function similar to that of memorials. Anti-monuments leave behind the idea that aesthetic objects "were only judged by their beauty, according to a given artistic canon". Apart from their aesthetic appearance, anti-monuments are "artifacts charged with affection" that, with their subversive activities in the public space, tend to reinstate its communitarian sense. For Eunice Hernández, a cultural facilitator, their location is key to prevent the issue from fading into oblivion, since those spaces are emblematic and represent a hegemonic power.

## Government position

Anti-monuments are rarely removed by the authorities once they are established. Although not removing them can affect the image of the government, removing them would imply that they have no interest in resolving the cause of their placement. After being installed, several sit-in groups remain in the area watching over the anti-monuments to prevent the authorities from removing them. In some instances, some governments have installed their own anti-monuments and in other cases have tried to dialogue with the protesters to decide where or how they should be installed. For philosopher Irene Tello Arista, these actions represent an absence of political commitment to change the situation that originated them.

## Antimonumenta

The antimonumenta is a type of anti-monument erected to demand justice for the victims of gender violence and femicides in the country. The first antimonumenta was erected on 8 March 2019, the date commemorating International Women's Day. It was installed on Juárez Avenue, in front of the Palace of Fine Arts in downtown Mexico City during the annual march of women protesting against gender violence. Since then, similar monuments have been installed throughout the country. The Antimonumenta represents the symbol of the feminist struggle, which is based on the symbol of Venus with a raised fist in the center. The antimonumentas of Mexico City and Guadalajara, for example, are purple. The color represents the history of the feminist struggle: "loyalty, constancy towards a purpose, unwavering firmness towards a cause".

## List of anti-monuments

| Picture | Name | In memory of | Description | State | Location | Date of installation |
| | Antimonumento +43 | The students that were abducted during the 2014 Iguala mass kidnapping. | The anti-monument features a "Plus 43" and a "Because they were taken alive, we want them alive!" slogan 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. 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. | Mexico City | Esquina de la Información, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Centro | 26 April 2015 |
| | Antimonumento +43 | The students that were abducted during the 2014 Iguala mass kidnapping. | The anti-monument features a "Plus 43" and a "Because they were taken alive, we want them alive!" slogan 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. 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. | Mexico City | Esquina de la Información, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Centro | 25 September 2018 |
| | Antimonumento 49 ABC | The 49 children who died during the 2009 Hermosillo daycare center fire. | The 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). Two years later, multiple bronze statues of children's shoes with the names of the victims were placed next to it. | Mexico City | IMSS Headquarters, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 5 June 2017 |
| | Antimonumento 49 ABC | The 49 children who died during the 2009 Hermosillo daycare center fire. | The 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). Two years later, multiple bronze statues of children's shoes with the names of the victims were placed next to it. | Mexico City | IMSS Headquarters, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 5 June 2019 |
| | #JusticiaABC | The 49 children who died during the 2009 Hermosillo daycare center fire. | 49 white crosses with the names of the victims. | Mexico City | Secretariat of the Interior Offices, Abraham González Street, Colonia Juárez | 3 November 2020 |
| | Rescatemos a David y Miguel | David Ramírez and Miguel Ángel Rivera, who were kidnapped on 5 January 2012. Although the ransom payment was made, both were not returned and their whereabouts or conditions are unknown. | The plaque calls for padlocks to be placed as a sign of protest. | Mexico City | Esquina de la Información, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 5 January 2018 |
| | Antimonumento +65 | 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. 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. | Mexico City | In front of the Mexican Stock Exchange Building, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 18 February 2018 |
| | Antimonumento +65 | 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. 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. | Mexico City | In front of the Mexican Stock Exchange Building, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 19 February 2019 |
| | 2 de Octubre | The victims of the Tlatelolco massacre | The anti-monument features a white dove and a plaque that blames the Government of Mexico and the Mexican Armed Forces for the massacre. | Mexico City | In the corner of Madero Street and the Zócalo, Colonia Centro | 2 October 2018 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was placed by mothers and relatives of victims of feminicide, during the march #8M for the International Women's Day. | Mexico City | In front of the Palace of Fine Arts, Juárez Avenue, Colonia Juárez | 8 March 2019 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the killing of Karla Pontigo Lucciotto and the 60 women murdered between 2010 and 2018. It was destroyed within a month. | San Luís Potosí | Plaza de Armas, historic center of San Luis Potosí City | 27 October 2019 |
| alt:Two crosses, one erect and the other bent. On the first one is written the phrase "My voice will never die", while on the two there are multiple names written. | Cruz de Vida | Victims of femicide | It was dedicated to murdered and abused women. | Mexico City | Paseo de la Reforma and Avenida de los Insurgentes | 1 December 2019 |
| alt:A park with the sculpture of a symbol of Venus surrounded by several crosses. | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to memorialize the women murdered in the state of Mexico. | State of Mexico | In front of the municipal palace of Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl | 25 November 2019 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to memorialize the women murdered in the state of Jalisco. | Jalisco | Plaza de Armas, Colonia Centro, Guadalajara | 25 November 2020 |
| | Antimonumenta (Banca Roja) | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It has a plaque that reads "In memory of all the women murdered by those who claimed to love them or just because they were women" in Spanish. | Jalisco | In front of the Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres, Hidalgo Avenue, Colonia Centro, Guadalajara | 25 November 2020 |
| | Memorial por víctimas de feminicidio | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It reads "In memory of all the female children, adolescents and women victims of femicide violence. Truth and Justice!" in Spanish. | Hidalgo | Plaza Juárez, Colonia Centro, Pachuca | 25 November 2020 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during protests where the feminists took the Chetumal Congress. The anti-monument was later destroyed and a replica was installed. | Quintana Roo | Chetumal Congress, Colonia Barrio Bravo, Chetumal | 30 November 2020 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during International Women's Day protests. | Veracruz | Parque Apolinar Castillo, Colonia Centro, Orizaba | 7 March 2021 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during International Women's Day protests. | Michoacán | Fuente de las Tarascas, Colonia Centro, Morelia | 8 March 2021 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during International Women's Day protests. | Veracruz | Port of Veracruz, Colonia Ignacio Zaragoza, Veracruz City | 8 March 2021 |
| | Glorieta de las mujeres que luchan | Victims of femicide | The sculpture was placed on the empty plinth of the Columbus Roundabout. | Mexico City | Former Columbus Roundabout, Paseo de la Reforma, Colonia Juárez | 25 September 2021 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to memorialize the women murdered in the state of Oaxaca. | Oaxaca | Fuente de las 8 Regiones, Colonia Reforma, Oaxaca City | 25 November 2021 |
| | Antimonumenta | Victims of femicide | It was installed during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to memorialize the women murdered in the state of Yucatán. | Yucatán | Paseo de Montejo, Mérida | 25 November 2021 |
| | Antimonumenta, Monumenta Viva | Victims of femicide | It was installed after an increase in disappearances and femicides in the state, including the killing of Debanhi Escobar. | Nuevo León | Government Palace of Nuevo León, Monterrey | 15 May 2022 |
| | Antimonumento del New's Divine | The victims killed during the New's Divine fire [es] | It was installed in memory of those killed during the event. | In front of National Palace, Zócalo, Centro | Mexico City | 22 June 2019 |
| | Bust of Samir Flores Soberanes | Samir Flores Soberanes [es], who opposed the construction of a federal hydroelectric plant in his community. | One year after his assassination, a bust was placed in the school named after him in the community of Amilcingo, Morelos. The next day, after a related march in Mexico City, a replica of the bust (pictured) was placed in the Zócalo square. | Morelos | Amilcingo, Temoac Municipality | 20 February 2020 |
| | Bust of Samir Flores Soberanes | Samir Flores Soberanes [es], who opposed the construction of a federal hydroelectric plant in his community. | One year after his assassination, a bust was placed in the school named after him in the community of Amilcingo, Morelos. The next day, after a related march in Mexico City, a replica of the bust (pictured) was placed in the Zócalo square. | Mexico City | Zócalo, Colonia Centro | 21 February 2020 |
| | Antimonumento a El Halconazo | The victims of the 1971 Corpus Christi massacre | The monument features a red V and phrases that blame the Government of Mexico for the massacre. | Mexico City | Juárez Avenue and Humboldt Street | 10 June 2021 |
| | Antimonumento +72 | The 72 migrants murdered during the 2010 San Fernando massacre | It was installed to remember that migration is a human right. | Mexico City | In front of the Embassy of the United States Building, Paseo de la Reforma, Colonia Juárez | 22 August 2020 |
| | Árbol de la Esperanza | Missing residents of Puebla | 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. | Puebla | Historic center of Puebla City | 5 December 2021 |
| | Glorieta de las y los Desaparecidos | The more than 100,000 missing persons in the country | It was 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. | Glorieta de la Palma roundabout | Mexico City | 8 May 2022 |
| | Antimonumento al Tren Maya | The Mayan jungle and its human and animal population | It was installed by environmentalists protesting against the Mayan Train, which will pass 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..." | Esquina de la Información, Paseo de la Reforma Avenue, Colonia Centro | Mexico City | 23 November 2022 |
| | Antimonumento 5J | The demonstrators arrested during protests related to the death of Giovanni López | It was installed adjacent to the Antimonumenta on the third anniversary of "El Halconazo Jaliciense" when police officers disappeared for hours demonstrators claiming the death of López. | Plaza de Armas, Colonia Centro, Guadalajara | Jalisco | 5 June 2023 |
| | Liga Comunista 23 de Septiembre | People 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. | Plaza San Andrés, Colonia San Andrés, Guadalajara | Jalisco | 23 September 2023 |
| | Antimonumento al desastre de los ríos de Sonora | Ecological disaster in the Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers [es] | 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. | Plaza Emiliana de Zubeldía, Colonia Centro, Hermosillo | Sonora | 7 August 2024 |

### #FueMorena

#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.
The installation received negative criticism from activists who have placed anti-monuments, considering it disrespectful and an appropriation of their movement for political purposes, 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". MORENA politicians called their PAN counterparts "opportunistic vultures" and called the installation an act of politicking.