Masacre 68

The song "Masacre 68" by Massacre 68 is a raw and powerful recounting of the Tlatelolco massacre that occurred in Mexico City on October 2, 1968. This event saw the brutal suppression of a student-led protest by the Mexican government, resulting in the deaths and disappearances of hundreds of people. The lyrics vividly describe the violence and terror experienced by the protesters, painting a grim picture of the state's oppressive force.

The opening lines, "No son de los nuestros, no son campesinos / No traen uniforme, sólo un guante blanco," refer to the Batallón Olimpia, a paramilitary group that infiltrated the protest. The white glove was their distinguishing mark, symbolizing their covert and sinister role in the massacre. The song's imagery of soldiers attacking "como fieras salvajes a su presa" (like wild beasts to their prey) underscores the brutality and inhumanity of the assault on unarmed civilians.

The chorus, "Cientos de soldados bien armados / No hay escapatoria, seremos masacrados," captures the hopelessness and inevitability felt by the protesters. The repetition of this line emphasizes the overwhelming force and the lack of any possible escape. The song also touches on the aftermath, with lines like "Cuerpos inertes, mutilados, profanados / Presos políticos, seremos nombrados," highlighting the dehumanization and political repression that followed the massacre. The reference to "un número incierto de muertos" (an uncertain number of dead) speaks to the ongoing mystery and cover-up surrounding the true extent of the tragedy.

Massacre 68, as a punk band, uses their music to channel anger and resistance against political oppression. Their raw, unfiltered style is a fitting medium for conveying the horror and outrage of the Tlatelolco massacre, ensuring that the memory of this dark chapter in Mexican history is not forgotten.