Defenders of the City of the Arts in Tepic seek protection

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 21, 2025, p. 4

Social and cultural activists are seeking to halt, with four injunctions, the total demolition of the City of Arts in Tepic, Nayarit, and prevent the construction of the Nicolás Álvarez Ortega soccer stadium in its place.

Two of these injunctions seek to prevent the removal of opponents of the new project from the area and to prevent the presence of members of the State Investigation Agency and the State Attorney General's Office.

In a press conference via Zoom, lawyers and activists stated that "the legal strategy is divided into two fronts. The first is from the Article 27 comrades; they are taking legal action to stop the demolition and construction and restore all artistic, cultural, and environmental rights of the City (of the Arts)."

Nayarit lawyers filed two injunctions intended to protect protesters because, as the federal criminal courts have stated, there is an imminent risk to their physical safety , said jurist Luis Daniel Juárez.

He explained that provisional suspensions have already been granted in the protection cases for the protesters, and they expect them to become final soon. He also specified that all the injunctions have been filed at the federal level.

For his part, Isaac Cárdenas, an activist and opponent of the Nicolás Álvarez Ortega stadium, stated that they will not back down in their defense of the City of the Arts. He also pointed out that the proper protocol was not followed regarding the trees and palm trees in the area, which indicates that they should be relocated to another green area.

He stated that they remain open to dialogue with state authorities and reiterated that those defending that area will continue to monitor it 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Nicolás Álvarez Ortega stadium's construction gathered in the rain and listened to former soccer player Ramón Ramírez, who spoke out in favor of the stadium's construction.

Artemisa Miralrio, a resident of the area for more than 70 years, expressed her pleasure at having this space again, because the stadium gave us identity .

Following speeches in support of the Nayarit government's project, led by Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero, the residents dispersed amid heavy downpours.

▲ In the western Vosges mountains, northeastern France, lies Mirecourt, a small town that was the center of string instrument making in the 18th century and the birthplace of the French Stradivarius family, Nicolas Lupot, one of the most illustrious violin makers of his time. It is also home to the Ecole Nationale de Lutherie (National School of Luthier Making), founded in 1970. This training center for those aspiring to become master luthiers , where students learn to master traditional violin, viola, and cello playing, enabling them to practice their profession both in France and abroad, thus contributing to the international recognition of this unique school. Photo AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 21, 2025, p. 4