The group appeared to include around 10 people in business attire actively participating in pulling the flag apart while a larger group of around 15 watched on. The flag was first ripped in half and then into fourths.
Local Mexican media outlets such as El Pais report that union leader Rafael Riva Palacio had ordered the removal of the flag on Wednesday, which was hung at the Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers (Infonavit). Before the video began, Palacio stood beside the flag with a megaphone and called it "unworthy," the outlet reports. "I personally and a group of colleagues cannot allow it, and as many times as they want to put it up, as many times as they put it up, we are going to remove it," Palacio said.
It was reportedly employees of Infonavit who then began to rip the flag apart, holding each side of it. El Pais reports that the institution had willingly placed the flag outside its building. The director of the institute, Carlos Martinez, has called the demonstration an act of "barbarianism, hatred, homophobia, and discrimination."
However, Palacio accused Martinez and his administration of hanging the flag without following proper regulations.
Martinez in return has reportedly filed a complaint that will be reviewed by "corresponding authorities." He posted a statement to X:
"Today I have been a witness and victim of an act of barbarism, hatred, homophobia and discrimination. The union leader of our Institution @Infonavit called on some of his members to break with the flags that we put up every June during pride month. After 5 years, it is the first time it has reached this point."
"A few days ago, on May 17, within the framework of the day against discrimination against the LGBT population. He spoke of the pride of being gay and being able to direct an institution like Infonavit, and from here contribute to the expansion of rights and promote inclusion in all its facets. In a homophobic and sexist society we were always taught to hide, not to show who we are and who we love. The fight for rights in CDMX was a watershed for those of us who came from states like Tlaxcala. It was a beacon of light and the opportunity to be proud of ourselves. In those years, we accompanied ourselves with David Razu Anzar, Jose Marino, Tipi, Patricia Mercado, Lol Kin Castaneda Badillo and many others."
"The fight for rights has been long but we advance every year. In community, we taught each other that love is the greatest force in society, we learned to take care of each other against a society that did not want to see us or let us be. But we knew that our revenge against that society is to be happy, it is dancing and joy. We will continue the fight, but we will not let this pass, we will present the corresponding complaints in all instances. The flags will be raised again and as many times as necessary. The revolution of consciences is going to triumph."
