MEXICO CITY: A prestigious private high school located in Mexico City announced on Nov 29 that a student who was caught on camera assaulting a parking lot attendant at his residential complex has been suspended and could possibly face expulsion.
This disturbing incident is just the latest in a series of attacks by wealthy individuals against working-class Mexicans, causing outrage in a country marked by severe income disparities. The attack took place in the central state of Puebla, where income inequality is particularly pronounced.
The governor of the state stated that racism and classism were likely behind the assault, which he revealed occurred on Tuesday. Governor Sergio Salomón Céspedes urged prosecutors to consider filing criminal charges in response to the incident.
The high school student involved, whose identity has not yet been verified by authorities, was captured on viral security footage. The video showed the student brutally and repeatedly punching the smaller parking lot attendant after becoming angry that his automatic parking pass was not working.
“I condemn classism. I condemn the elitism that separates people based on their social standing, race, religion, physical condition or preferences,” Governor Céspedes wrote on his social media accounts. “I call on the Puebla prosecutors’ office to conduct an exhaustive investigation, so that justice can be done and a precedent set,” he added.
The student’s private prep school stated that they had suspended him and might expel him, despite the assault not taking place on campus.
“We have decided to take immediate action by suspending the student … taking into account that under our regulations, what happened was a serious offense,” the Anahuac private prep school stated.
“We emphatically condemn any serious offense against the principles of respect and responsibilities that we promote,” their statement continued.
The parking attendant had darker skin, a slight build, and more indigenous features compared to his lighter-skinned attacker. There was no immediate comment from prosecutors regarding potential charges against the student.
The incident occurred earlier in the week at the entrance of a luxury residential development on the outskirts of Puebla, which has gained notoriety as a site for misbehaving, privileged youths. In September, a group of these young men were involved in the brutal beating of another individual.
The most infamous incident dates back to 2012, when a wealthy Mexican man was filmed attacking a parking attendant who refused to show him where to find the jack in his car.
At that time, Miguel Sacal, the man who beat the parking attendant at a luxury apartment building, agreed to issue an apology and pay damages for his actions, according to the parking attendant’s lawyer, Ademar Gonzalez.
Around the same time, two upper middle-class women faced widespread public fury after they were caught on video insulting, shoving, and slapping a Mexico City police officer, as well as making derogatory remarks about his mother and calling him a “crappy wage slave”.
These women were later charged with resisting officers, insulting authorities, and discrimination. – AP
