Tucsonans join chorus of protests over 43 missing Mexican students

More than 150 people gathered in front of the Mexican consulate in downtown Tucson on Thursday to protest the disappearance of 43 students from a teacher's college in Mexico.

The protest coincided with a range of demonstrations worldwide, including a protest that erupted in violence in Mexico City as masked protestors skirmished with police in the city's main square. Among the demands of the protestors was the resignation of Mexico's President Enrique Peńa Nieto. 

The protestors sought answers, and the return of 43 students from the Rural Normal School of Ayotzinapa, a rural teachers college in the city of Iguala, in the Mexican state of Guerrero on Sept. 26.

Tucson Police officers closed Stone Avenue, allowing protestors to fill the street in front of the consulate. In addition to carrying signs, some people had painted their faces white and written "43" in red. Others had decorated themselves with red hand prints and one woman had marked her arms with stage blood.

Along with banners, protestors laid out photographs of each of the 43 students.

Officials from the consulate's office came out to speak with the protestors and were given a letter with a list of demands.

The mayor of Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca and his wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda, were arrested by Mexican federal police in connection with the disappearances just over two weeks ago.