From April 1999-February 2000, students at the National Autonomous University of Mexico held a general strike against a tuition increase and for administrative reform. The strike, which completely shut down this university of 270,000 students, caught the attention of people worldwide and has inspired many others who are dealing with similar budget cuts, privatization, and the general undermining of public education and other social services. Though military police took back the campus after nine months of student occupation, the Mexican student movement continues its fight for free education for all.

A wealth of information on the strike is available in Spanish from many online sources. This webpage includes news articles and background information in English, mostly from March-July 1999. You may find more up-to-date information on the webpages of Mexico Solidarity Network or Global Exchange.