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As I look around campus, I see students crowding the Hall of Languages to demand change. Teachers from my Texan high school have told me of their secret lessons on banned books during quick catch-ups, and people all over the nation are taking to the streets for immigrants and U.S.-born citizens alike.

For many Americans, times are bleak, but Mexico’s resilience and unbreakable spirit should serve as a sign that collective hope and effort can cause a change in even the highest of tides.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party, later dubbed by historians as “The Perfect Dictatorship,” was formed in 1929 after the Mexican Revolution. This granted Mexico its freedom from Spanish colonial rule to ensure political stability across the country.

But what once started as a beacon of hope for the country ultimately became its own demise, demonstrating a dangerous descent into dictatorship that would fail citizens nationwide.

Over the years, PRI acquired full control of the Mexican government, holding the presidency of Mexico and the majority in both houses of Congress and most state governments for 71 years.

Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential victory showed the United States the beginning of a cultural shift in a similar way – the U.S. was entering unmarked territory.

Under the Trump administration, the Republican Party has a majority vote over the House of Representatives and the Senate and also fills most of the Judicial seats.

Both PRI and Trump managed to pull off the siege of democracy in their respective nations, dominating every aspect of their political systems and enabling violence within.

In 1952, for instance, opponents of PRI were attacked by troops during a protest in Mexico City. This was not the last time PRI militarized the streets of Mexico, with recurring violence against protesters and civilians alike in other instances such as the Tlatelolco Massacre and the Corpus Christi Massacre.

It’s not hard to see violence inciting at the federal level and compare it to events in the U.S. like the Jan. 6 insurrection, defended by Trump himself, and the current deployment of the National Guard and Marines against protesters in Los Angeles, or even the ongoing militarization of the streets of Washington, D.C.

But PRI’s steamrolling shouldn’t be the only perspective we apply to today. The nation’s people also demonstrated a level of unity that could greatly benefit the Americans of today. If the Trump administration wants to repeat history in negative ways, we can combat his actions with the same resources.

When the unstoppable PRI finally lost the 2000 election to the National Action Party, Mexico was politically freed. Doors opened for the country to evolve positively, eventually leading to developments such as the first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, taking office.

Labor Day’s arrival should remind us of Trump’s approaching plans to strip workers of federal protections and cut wages. The unions have decided that they won’t be silent in the face of these injustices, having planned rallies across the country today.

Even though PRI controlled much of what the current labor unions at the time could do, communities began to form independent unions to challenge the authority. College students and the elderly alike organized rallies in the streets to draw global attention to the atrocities happening under the PRI administration.

Additionally, community-run news outlets and independent papers began emerging despite PRI’s heavy suppression of freedom of speech.

This was a stepping stone to getting their democracy back on track, and the same methods can apply to the 21st-century U.S.

Since the Trump administration has cut significant funding to media outlets, we must rely on local and independent news more than ever. Once we’re no longer afraid to be silent, those in the position of power lose their grip over our mouths.

This is the time to get loud while we still can. There is a common Latin American saying that translates to, “To be young and not a revolutionary is a biological contradiction.” I urge students at Syracuse University and across the country to get organized, get vocal and get involved.

But, while playing an important role, protesting alone didn’t win Mexico its independence.

A big factor in taking back their democracy was the act of coalition. PAN and the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico unified their campaigns to broaden their appeal to indecisive voters, preventing PRI from obtaining a majority vote.

In the U.S. presidential race, we see votes go toward the Independent party that could otherwise bolster the Democratic party. If representatives could work together to bridge the gap between voters, there might be a better chance for deviation from Republican control.

The few independent agencies used by the U.S. to limit corruption are currently under attack by the Trump administration, which seeks to monitor their regulations and policies.

Most Americans are growing notably distrustful of the electoral process, which makes efforts like calling our representatives and pushing for independent electoral monitoring even more pressing.

We need both bold, direct outreach as well as gradual system change to best mimic the unwavering resistance of Mexico as it rose from under the boot of oppression.

These are the same sparks of revolution I noticed when studying Mexican history, and, by acting now, we can ensure the similarities don’t stop at defeat.

Sofía Peralta is a junior majoring in acting. She can be reached at soperalt@syr.edu.

Published on September 1, 2025 at 9:49 pm