Deadly clashes between police and teacher’s union

World Today

At least six people were killed and more than a 100 injured after clashes erupted between police and members of a teacher’s union in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

CCTV America’s Martin Markovits reported from Chichihualco.
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The violence followed a week of disturbances in which teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, set up roadblocks on major highways across the state. They were protesting the arrest of two high profile teacher union leaders accused of stealing from the union and using money to fund demonstrations.

Protesters said the arrests were politically motivated. Several cities and towns erupted in chaos on Sunday as demonstrators throwing stones and Molotov cocktails clashed with police. Authorities say the protestors set cars on fire. Witnesses said riot police fired on the crowd.

“We call on the teachers to stop these acts and encourage local and federal governments to enter into a dialogue to try to understand the concern the teachers have. Moves to reform education are underway,” Gabino Cue, Oaxaca State Governor said.

Mexican officials said the police were clearing the road when an unknown gunmen fired. The government at first denied police were carrying guns until a video was released showing some were. Authorities say all those killed in the violence were civilian and connected to the teacher’s union.