In Iguala, Mexico, a group of 43 students from Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College was forcibly abducted while traveling to a protest against educational reforms. The students were en route to a demonstration in Mexico City to raise awareness about funding cuts to rural education. As they were traveling by bus, their vehicles were intercepted by local police. Eyewitnesses reported that students were targeted, allegedly due to their plans to disrupt the event. The abduction was characterized by alarming violence, and it was soon discovered that the authorities had connections with a criminal gang known as Guerreros Unidos.

The events surrounding the kidnapping began to unfold as national outrage amplified, leading to protests across the country. Demonstrators demanded justice for the missing students and accountability for those involved in their disappearance. Investigative efforts revealed severe corruption within the local government and police forces, which were deemed complicit in narcotics trafficking and other criminal activities. Multiple protests across Mexico called for fundamental reforms to address corruption and violence.

National and international interest in the case led to investigations by human rights organizations, and the situation became a pivotal moment in discussions about human rights and government accountability in Mexico. The Mexican government faced immense pressure to solve the case, which highlighted the broader issues related to violence against social activists, education rights, and the failure of law enforcement to protect citizens.