In recent years, the city of Mérida has been the scene of various social demonstrations that have sometimes resulted in graffiti and damage to historic buildings, including the Municipal Palace.
For example, in August 2021, demonstrators made graffiti on the columns of the Government Palace and the Municipal Palace during a protest demanding justice for José Eduardo Ravelo Echeverría.
Subsequently, specialists from the City Council and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) assessed the damage caused to these structures.
Current position of the Mérida City Council
Despite precedents like the one mentioned, the Mérida City Council has decided not to implement special protection measures for the Municipal Palace
since there is a possibility that graffiti may occur during future demonstrations.
The city council mentioned trusting in the "peaceful nature" of the protests and in the citizens' respect for the city's historical heritage.
Reactions from the community and heritage experts
The City Council's stance has caused various opinions among the community and heritage conservation experts.
Some citizens believe it is essential to protect historic buildings, regardless of the nature of the demonstrations, to preserve the cultural identity of Mérida.
On the other hand, there are those who support the City Council's decision, arguing that implementing protection measures could be interpreted as a criminalization of social protest.
Conservation experts point out that while it is important to trust in the civility of the demonstrators,
