Tlatelolco massacre

Mexican history [1968]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Tlatelolco Massacre occurred in Mexico City on October 2, 1968, just ten days before the opening of the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. Security forces opened fire on student protesters in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, resulting in the deaths of as many as 300 people. This tragic event, known as the Tlatelolco Massacre, overshadowed the international event and cast a long shadow over Mexico's image of progress.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

7 Significant Political Events at the Olympic Games
Mexico City 1968: Brutal Shooting and Civil Rights Protest
…which became known as the Tlatelolco massacre. Additionally, American politics infiltrated the athletics competition. U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested their country’s treatment of Black citizens during the men’s 200-meter award ceremony. They took their first- and third-placed podiums barefoot and, during the playing of the U.S. national…
Read More
…which became known as the Tlatelolco massacre. Additionally, American politics infiltrated the athletics competition. U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested their country’s treatment of Black citizens during the men’s 200-meter award ceremony. They took their first- and third-placed podiums barefoot and, during the playing of the U.S. national…
Read More

Luis Echeverría Álvarez
…that culminated in the “Tlatelolco massacre,” in which more than 300 demonstrators were killed or wounded and thousands arrested.
Read More
…that culminated in the “Tlatelolco massacre,” in which more than 300 demonstrators were killed or wounded and thousands arrested.
Read More