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Mexico’s Revolution Will Not Be Televised

‘Turn off your TV, turn on your brain,’ says the web-savvy #YoSoy132 protest movement, in the run-up to the July 1 Mexican presidential election

On a recent Sunday, a nearly 100,000-strong mob marched toward this capital city’s iconic Angel de la Independencia statue, chanting in Spanish, “The people, quiet, will never be heard.”

A poster attached to the base of the statue took aim at two focal points of their rage — presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto and Mexican TV network Televisa. The poster read: “Peña Nieto, this is the reality of Mexico — not Televisa. The people have woken up.”

In the last stretch before Mexico’s July 1 presidential election, young demonstrators have come out in droves. They call themselves “Yo Soy 132” and “Mas de 131” — I am 132, and More than 131 — referring to a crowd of 131 college students who heckled the presidential hopeful, and later posted videos on YouTube to prove it.

Some are calling their peaceful protests the “Mexican spring.” But these angry youth are not fighting to upend an oppressive political regime. They’re working to stage a democratic revolt against an almighty establishment of another order: television.

The country’s two main TV networks, Televisa and TV Azteca, are under attack for apparently favoring Peña Nieto, former governor of the state of Mexico, and his soap opera starlet wife, to move into Los Pinos presidential residence.

That outcome looks very likely. Throughout most of the campaign season beginning in March, the ex-governor has relished a double-digit lead in some polls. However, in late May, not long after the protests began the movement garnered a small victory — his margin started to shrink.

Read More at GlobalPost

Image Credit: Getty Images