Mexico’s Glitter Revolution: How Should Women Protest?

“Now, pink glitter seems to be the spark of a new revolution in Mexico against gender violence.”

First, pink glitter bedazzled Mexico City’s security minister Jesús Orta. It was described as “a serious aggression.” Then, pink glitter was released all over Mexico City in the midst of a historic protest. They called it “vandalism.” Now, pink glitter seems to be the sign of a new revolution in Mexico against gender violence.

On Friday, August 16th, thousands of women gathered in Mexico City to protest the alarming rates of gender violence in my country. The protests were sparked by the terrifying news of a 17-year-old girl (yes, girl) who was raped by four policemen in Mexico City. A 70-year-old woman was also raped and then left to die, and a 6-year-old child was raped and murdered. While Mexican women were enraged about these crimes, the organized protests were also a cry for help and attention since more than 1,200 women have been killed in 2019 due to gender violence. We live in a country where femicide barely makes the news.

“No nos cuidan, nos violan” (“They don’t protect us, they rape us”) was the battle-cry hundreds of women shouted in unison to protest the fact that at least five women are raped every day in Mexico, that gender crimes have increased 104% in the last three years, and that many of the rapists and perpetrators are, in fact, employed by the government. In Mexico, it doesn’t make the news that some policemen and soldiers are responsible for sexually abusing women.