In a recent wave of protests in Mexico, Christian groups have taken to the streets, voicing their concerns over the new textbooks introduced by the Ministry of Public Education. The demonstrators, largely consisting of parents affiliated with Christian organizations, gathered in the thousands to oppose what they perceive as the inclusion of sexual and gender ideology content within these educational materials.
The protests, which attracted at least 12,000 participants in the state of Aguascalientes alone, reflect deep-seated reservations among certain segments of the population. In the southern state of Chiapas, known for its significant Evangelical Christian population, a striking gesture symbolized their opposition. At an elementary school in Chiapas, parents from the community piled up boxes of newly distributed textbooks, doused them with fuel, and set them ablaze as a dramatic expression of their discontent.
The heart of the matter lies in the content of the textbooks themselves. Over 112,000 signatures were collected in a petition demanding the immediate halt of textbook distribution, citing concerns about “sexualized and gender ideology content inserted without parental consultation.” Many parents fear that these materials may be promoting views they consider contrary to their Christian values.
Responding to the protests, Mexican President López Obrador acknowledged the right of citizens to demonstrate and express their concerns. However, he also stated that parents may be “misinformed and manipulated” by what he characterized as a politicized agenda. President López Obrador dismissed claims that the textbooks are infused with Marxist-communist indoctrination, referring to it as the belief in the “virus of communism” being embedded in the new educational materials. He asserted that the textbooks had been prepared by teachers and experts, countering allegations of ideological bias.
Despite the president’s reassurances, the demonstrations continue to grow as Christian groups assert their concerns regarding the content of the textbooks and the alleged lack of parental consultation in their creation.
Parents in Mexico burn boxes filled with LGBTQI+ gender ideology books that were being used in schools to indoctrinate children. pic.twitter.com/ZS6gONcFZh
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) August 29, 2023
