On September 19, 1985, an earthquake struck Mexico City. According to experts quoted by TV Azteca, “miles de voluntarios se movilizaron para rescatar víctimas, repartir víveres y brindar refugio” (thousands of volunteers mobilized to rescue victims, distribute food and provide shelter). In the first days, the government had been completely overwhelmed.
In No sin nosotros, his chronicle of the days of the earthquake, Carlos Monsiváis wrote that civil society “encabeza, convoca y distribuye la solidaridad” (leads, calls together and distributes solidarity).