In defense of university autonomy and the student movement of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala

The history of Latin American universities demonstrates that silencing the student movement is often one of the first steps toward subjugating public universities. The repression carried out on July 1st against students of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala constitutes a serious attack on the right to protest, student organization, and university autonomy. The use of tear gas and water cannons, as well as the actions of masked individuals, to prevent demonstrations against the second fraudulent rectorial election—through which Walter Mazariegos Biolis is once again being reinstated—evidences the deepening of an authoritarian process and the closure of spaces for democratic participation within the university.

From the CLACSO Working Group on Student Movements and Activism We express our solidarity with the students of San Carlos University and strongly condemn the violence perpetrated against them. These events are not an isolated incident, but rather part of a broader offensive aimed at weakening university autonomy, dismantling student organizations, and silencing critical voices in public higher education.

We demand an immediate end to the persecution, criminalization, and attacks against those who defend the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, as well as effective guarantees for the right to protest, freedom of association, and student participation. No authority can claim legitimacy while resorting to violence to silence its own university community.

We call upon student organizations, academic communities, universities, and regional and international networks to speak out and support the defense of autonomy, democracy, and public education in Guatemala. Defending the San Carlos University student movement is also defending the possibility of a critical, democratic university committed to its society.

July 3, 2026
CLACSO Working Group Student movements and activism

This text expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Groups and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.