
On January 1, 2017, the Mexican government issued a 20 percent increase in gas prices as a result of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s efforts to deregulate the petroleum industry. Protests quickly erupted all over Mexico, with demonstrators blocking highways and confronting police. In Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, protesters blocked the train tracks near the Arizona-Sonora border, stopping international trade. On Sunday, January 8, 2017, hundreds of people showed up near downtown Nogales, and after some protesters began throwing rocks at riot police, the police responded by firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
No Al Gasolinazo protesters block a Union Pacific train from entering the United States during a protest in Nogales, Sonora. (Photo: Ankur Singh)
Mexican police in riot gear form a line during a confrontation with protesters against increased gas prices in Mexico. (Photo: Ankur Singh)
A crowd forms around a police vehicle at a No Al Gasolinazo protest in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. (Photo: Ankur Singh)
Protesters climb onto a stopped train. (Photo: Ankur Singh)
Protesters lay concrete blocks along the train tracks near the US-Mexico border in Nogales, Sonora, in order to stop international trade. (Photo: Ankur Singh)
No Al Gasolinazo protest in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico from Ankur Singh on Vimeo.
On Sunday, January 8th, 2017 hundreds of people in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico protesting increased gas prices blocked the train tracks near the US-Mexico border, stopping international trade, and were then fired upon by Mexican police.
Angry, shocked, overwhelmed? Take action: Support independent media.
We’ve borne witness to a chaotic first few months in Trump’s presidency.
Over the last months, each executive order has delivered shock and bewilderment — a core part of a strategy to make the right-wing turn feel inevitable and overwhelming. But, as organizer Sandra Avalos implored us to remember in Truthout last November, “Together, we are more powerful than Trump.”
Indeed, the Trump administration is pushing through executive orders, but — as we’ve reported at Truthout — many are in legal limbo and face court challenges from unions and civil rights groups. Efforts to quash anti-racist teaching and DEI programs are stalled by education faculty, staff, and students refusing to comply. And communities across the country are coming together to raise the alarm on ICE raids, inform neighbors of their civil rights, and protect each other in moving shows of solidarity.
It will be a long fight ahead. And as nonprofit movement media, Truthout plans to be there documenting and uplifting resistance.
As we undertake this life-sustaining work, we appeal for your support. Please, if you find value in what we do, join our community of sustainers by making a monthly or one-time gift.