Anger Erupts After Rich Teen Beats Up Parking Guard in Expensive Private High School
A recent beating of a parking guard has stoked class divisions in Mexico even further as outrage erupted after a video of that guard being beaten up by a rich teenager in an expensive private school in Puebla State surfaced.
According to the Associated Press, this was the latest in a decade-long string of beatings of working-class Mexicans by wealthy people in a country, with a massive wealth gap between the rich elites and the working class.
This is evident in the Mexican state where the incident happened, as Puebla is known for sharp income inequalities. Puebla Gov. Sergio Salomon Cespedes even went out to condemn the attack and called on prosecutors to consider bringing criminal charges against the wealthy teen.
"I condemn classism. I condemn the elitism that separates people based on their social standing, race, religion, physical condition or preferences," said the governor on social media. "I call on the Puebla prosecutors' office to conduct an exhaustive investigation, so that justice can be done and a precedent set."
How the Beating Incident by Mexico Teen on a Parking Guard Happened
Authorities have not yet confirmed the high school student's name. However, he was captured on security camera footage rushing the guard shack and was seen ruthlessly punching the smaller employee repeatedly.
The teen was a high school student at an exclusive school with wealthy students and he was reportedly angry because his automatic parking pass was not working, leading him to attack the parking guard.
The victim has been identified as Hugo Enrique Vera, a parking attendant. His lawyer stated that the Mexico teen who beat up his client, whom they identified as Miguel Sacal, agreed to apologize and pay damages for the beating.
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That school is the Anahuac private prep school, which regards itself as the "best private high school in the south of Tamaulipas," according to its official website.
It states that it "stands out from the rest for being the only high school with an international university system with values and a vision of comprehensive training. It aims to form upright Christian leaders that renew society and develop themselves free and mature according to their age, who achieve academic excellence and are committed to searching the truth."
However, after the incident, the school released a statement, saying that the Mexico teen who attacked the guard is now suspended and may face expulsion.
"We emphatically condemn any serious offense against the principles of respect and responsibilities that we promote," the school's statement read.
Classism and Racism Prevalent Throughout Mexico, Darker-Skinned Mexicans Looked Down Upon
ABC News reported that the attack happened at the entrance to a luxury housing development on the outskirts of the central city of Puebla. The area already has a reputation for rich kids misbehaving, with a gang of young men previously beating up another teen in September.
However, the focus has now turned to how the rich continue looking down on those who do not have as much money as they are or have darker skin, as the parking guard was darker-skinned, slight in build, and had more indigenous features. Meanwhile, his attacker has light skin.
Incidences such as this have been increasing in Mexico as of late including a recent video of two upper-middle-class women shoving and slapping a Mexico City police officer, calling him a "crappy wage slave." Much like the Puebla incident, this also drew widespread condemnation. They were later charged with resisting officers, insulting authorities, and discrimination.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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