International
MIT students protest again despite reprisals from the center and Biden’s accusation
Students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) occupied the stairs of the main building of that university this Friday and marched around the campus to reaffirm that they will continue with their protests against the war in Gaza.
The students said that “neither the reprisals of the university administration nor the reprimands” this week of President Joe Biden, who accused them of anti-Semitism, will prevent them from continuing with their demonstrations in favor of Palestine.
The MIT administration ordered the dispersion of a protest of these students on Thursday that ended in 9 detainees and this morning allowed the riot police to enter the campus to dismantle the camp that the students had established.
One of those arrested yesterday, Ruth Hanna, told Efe that they will not give in in their claims either because of Biden’s comments – in the demonstration many students wore kipá – or because of the fact that MIT is suspending and expelling students involved in the protests from their university residences.
“The students are fighting and we are not going to stop until justice is done to Palestine. We have power and we are going to continue using it,” said the student and also leader.
Hanna lamented the “police brutality” during the arrests and the eviction of the camp: “We are not afraid. This repression makes our movement bigger and stronger,” he said.
“MIT works because we make it work,” “we have the power to close it” and “if we don’t get justice, they won’t have peace,” were some of the slogans that the students shouted.
Another young trade unionist, Cecil Carey, addressed the crowd, sentenced: “We are not going to move from here. They can suspend us and make us dizzy with meetings, but it won’t work for them. You can arrest students, but you can’t stop a move.”
One of the students who is suspended, Hannah Didehbani, criticized that after “seven months of genocide,” MIT “ignores” her demands and accused the university of “collaboratating” in investigations commissioned by the Ministry of Defense of Israel.
MIT has recently received 4 million dollars from Israel due to these joint works, which really for this macro-center of education, with about 3.5 billion annual budget, is nothing more than a few “penices,” according to Didehbani.
But MIT “cares more about having freedom in academic terms” than being complicit in a genocide, Didehbani suggested, and he ended by saying: “We are not going to stop until all MIT’s relations with the Ministry of Defense of Israel are over.”
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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