August 21, 1970 (Díaz Ordaz Airport, Puerto Vallarta), 2014
Ink on Duralar, 51″ x 38 ½”
Pat and Richard Nixon stand with the Mexican President and his daughter at the newly-renamed Ordaz Airport.
When I was in high school, I learned that part of the history of Mexico. And then I asked, why does the airport of Puerto Vallarta have the name of a murderer? And why does the principle street have the name of a murderer? I asked my friends: Díaz Ordaz killed students so why does the airport have his name? They said, well, he’s a politician.
Cuando estaba en preparatoria, aprendimos parte de la historia de México. Pregunté porque el Aeropuerto de Puerto Vallarta lleva el nombre de un asesino, y porque la calle principal lleva el nombre de un asesino. Le pregunté a mis amigos, “Díaz Ordaz mató estudiantes entonces, ¿porqué nombraron así el aeropuerto?” Ellos dijeron que porque era un político.