Justice and The Young Woman of Amajac Statues, Mexico City

On September 25, 2021, feminist activists installed a wooden sculpture of a purple woman with a raised fist, called Justice, on the empty plinth at the Christopher Columbus roundabout on the Avenue of Reform in Mexico City. This “anti-monument,” later reinforced with steel, symbolized the fight for justice against violence toward women. The activists subsequently renamed the area the "Roundabout of the Women Who Fight," honoring females protesting systemic violence and inequality in Mexico.

The installation followed the removal of the Columbus statue in October 2020, amid growing calls for decolonization. Initially installed in 1887, the statue was removed for "restoration" ahead of a planned protest on Columbus Day. In its place, the city's mayor proposed Tlalli, a sculpture by Pedro Reyes meant to honor indigenous women. However, feminists and indigenous groups criticized the decision, citing Reyes’ non-indigenous background, the monument's design, and the use of a Nahuatl name for a piece inspired by Olmec culture. This backlash postponed the installation of Tlalli, and a committee was formed to address the controversy.

The Justice sculpture became a focal point for demonstrations and cultural events, with activists painting the names of murdered and disappeared women on protective fences, which were repeatedly erased and repainted. This act highlighted systemic failures while commemorating victims and defenders of women’s rights.

In 2023, the capital's mayor announced a compromise to install both Justice and a replica of The Young Woman of Amajac, a Huastec sculpture, at the roundabout. The Columbus statue was relocated to the National Museum of the Viceroyalty. However, the mayor's successor moved the Amajac replica to a nearby traffic island to prevent further disputes.

The Justice sculpture remains a powerful symbol of resistance, emphasizing the resilience of women fighting for justice and recognition in Mexico.