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Prominent Figures

María Teresa Bautista Herrera (? - ?) - Popular Leader

On the afternoon of March 21, 1952, the massacre prompted by spurious actions of State Governor Manuel Mayoral Heredia caused the people to take to the streets, causing army reinforcements and several tanks to be placed in the city.

The next morning, an enormous popular demonstration surged forth from the Western entrance of the verdant Antequera (today the rotunda of Calzada Madero), banners flew and shouting was heard in repudiation of the Mayoral Heredia government.

The demonstrators arrived at the intersection of Hidalgo Avenue and November 20th, surrounded by war tanks that prevented passage to the Zócalo. A soldier invited the people to disperse and return to their homes; the tanks’ cannons pointed toward the people, and at that moment, Maria Teresa Herrera approached one of the cannons, unfurled the National Flag shouting, "Long live Oaxaca! Long Live Mexico!" and sang the National Anthem joined by the demonstrators. The latter, rushed the tanks, and the soldiers stood at attention, while the National Anthem was heard. The people took advantage of the soldiers’ position by gaining access to the Zócalo, storming the Government Palace, and placing a huge banner that said, "Mayoral Heredia, behold your deeds." The dead bodies rescued from the massacre had been placed in the main entrance to the Government Palace. (They had been the wounded rescued by the Red Cross through the personal and brave intervention of José Torres Calderon)

Later, Maria Teresa Bautista Herrera handed student leader Carlos Aranda Villamayor, the Peoples’ Flag, which has remained hidden since then. Maria Teresa Bautista died in poverty and abandoned by the same people she led to civic victory on that glorious popular demonstration on March 22, 1952.