PANAMA CITY — Panama is commemorating Martyrs' Day on January 9, reflecting on the tragic events of 1964 when 21 protesters were killed by police and U.S. troops. This year's observance takes on heightened significance amid U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threats to retake control of the Panama Canal, stirring historical tensions.

The protests that led to the Martyrs' Day massacre originated over the inability to fly Panama's flag at a Canal Zone school, escalating into a larger anti-U.S. movement. This pivotal moment played a crucial role in the eventual turnover of canal control to Panama, under an agreement signed by former President Jimmy Carter that took effect on December 31, 1999. Notably, this Martyrs' Day coincided with Carter's funeral, occurring just days after his passing at age 100.

Trump's recent rhetoric includes contempt for rising canal transit fees, suggesting that the U.S. should reclaim the canal and not ruling out military action. Such statements have been met with firm rejection from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, expressing unequivocal national sovereignty.

During the commemorative events, Esmeralda Orobio, niece of one of the slain, proclaimed, “The Panama Canal is ours and we are going to defend it.” Meanwhile, Michael Shifter, a noted scholar, dismissed Trump's threats as unrealistic, characterizing them as “empty.”

This significant day highlights ongoing discussions about national identity, historical memory, and the implications of U.S. political rhetoric in relation to Panama. As tensions simmer, the resilience of Panamanian patriotism and sovereignty continues to shine through, echoed by many during this solemn remembrance.

For further details, read the full articles by the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press.