US Issues 'Emergency Message' for Travelers as Protests Escalate in Mexico's Oaxaca State Dolia Estevez - Forbes
go to original June 5, 2015

Radical teachers took control of the local airport to protest against an education reform law and boycott Sunday’s elections in Oaxaca, June 3, 2015. (Patricia Castellanos/AFP/Getty Images)

This week, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued an “Emergency Message” warning U.S. citizens in the Mexican Southern State of Oaxaca to keep away from mass demonstrations and exercise caution in anticipation of Sunday’s volatile mid-term elections.

In a message to Americans living or visiting Oaxaca, a state known for its indigenous cultures and pre-Hispanic crafts, the U.S. Embassy warned that “mass demonstrations are currently taking place in Oaxaca” and that “protesters entered the Oaxaca airport” forcing suspension of incoming and outgoing flights Wednesday.

In addition, the message says, protesters have reportedly taken control of a gasoline distribution center and gas stations in Oaxaca, which has caused fuel shortages for private vehicles and interrupted public transportation.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City told U.S. citizens to avoid protests and reminded them that even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent.

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