Santa Cruz Massacre

The Santa Cruz Massacre occurred on May 3, 2007, in Guatemala when police and military forces attacked a peaceful protest by Indigenous villagers demanding land rights. The protesters had occupied a former estate called Santa Cruz Barillas. Security forces opened fire, killing at least nine villagers and injuring many others. The event highlighted ongoing struggles for land and Indigenous rights in Guatemala, exposing issues of governmental violence and human rights abuses. It drew international attention to the need for justice and respect for marginalized communities in the country.