Article 123 was once a street for the coexistence and overnight stay of homeless individuals; however, they were gradually displaced, and today it is an almost empty space that speaks to us about social cleansing policies, gentrification, and human rights violations.
In a symbolic act and as a peaceful protest, on August 19, 2022, we intervened in the space to give it new meaning, to listen to the voices of the displaced, and to remember those we lost in that process. Together with homeless individuals, organizations, and collectives, we placed written testimonies and texts resulting from a “clothesline of complaints” about acts of violence suffered in public spaces by homeless inhabitants. These testimonies were collected in San Fernando, Las Conchitas, Metro Revolución, and Article 123.
It is time to listen to the voices of those who are marginalized, to denounce the abuses, and to collectively fight for inclusion, non-discrimination, and dignity.
The Mexican press reports numerous cases of “social cleansing” of homeless people in recent years. With these words, they refer to practices aimed at removing those who live in public spaces. The methods used range from harassing them to move from one place to another where they won’t “bother,” to forced relocation to state-run shelters, […]
In the company of the anthropologist Fabrizio Pistillo, the advocates created a dictionary in which they established what various terms commonly used in social policy instruments directed at socially excluded people mean to them. These concepts are often discussed in academic circles, but with this exercise, we open up the space to understand what those […]
On Friday, January 13th, it was an important day for the streets of this “city of rights.” An organized group of homeless individuals decided to put a stop to acts of social cleansing. They appeared resolute and confident. Photo by Eréndira Aquino The events unfolded as follows: Before noon on Thursday, January 12th, the mayor […]
We had magazines, photo and a collection of cool merchandise. The fair was a platform where stories intertwined and where culture and diversity were celebrated. For our ‘Valedors’, each visitor to our strand constituted a creative encounter, a literary escape and a direct contribution to this amazing cause. Each and every smile and interaction helped […]
It is with great pleasure that we celebrate the 13th birthday of the Historical Archive of @Alc_Iztapalapa, an invaluable platform dedicated to the protection and study of the rich history of this territory. We were part of their cultural market “tianguis”, sharing a platform with the community. We would like to express our sincerest gratitude […]
We were honored to participate in the Conference on Homelessness in South America 2023, dedicated to deep-diving into the complexities of homelessness in our country and exploring innovative solutions to compact the social challenges it presents. We examined the root causes of homelessness, ranging from economic and social factors to those relating to mental health […]
