acts of civil disobedience Protests and acts of civil disobedience against the alleged irregularities included: July 31: Since the large rally on July 31, blocked traffic along Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma, disrupting the city's business district, including the Mexico City Stock Exchange, banks, businesses, and hotels. August 8: Seized five highway tollbooths leading into Mexico City, allowing motorists free access. August 9: Briefly surrounded and blocked the offices of foreign-owned banks: Citigroup's (United States) Banamex; BBVA's (Spain) Bancomer; and Britain's HSBC. August 9: Initiated a march towards Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport, that was dispersed by federal forces. August 11: Briefly seized the Córdoba international bridge in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. Protested for 20 minutes in front of the international airport of Hermosillo, Sonora. Protested in front of the Instituto Nacional de Migración in Acapulco, Guerrero. Blocked the offices of Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público in Xalapa, Veracruz. Occupied the offices of the Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana and the Cámara Nacional de Comercio in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. This event was notable because, according to the newspaper La Jornada, most of the 300 demonstrators were "women armed with pots and spoons". August 12: A day before the conclusion of the recount, López Obrador's coalition threatened with mobilizations to prevent the "imposition" of Felipe Calderón if the PAN candidate is confirmed winner. August 13: Amid continuing protests and the unfinished partial recount, López Obrador calls for protests on: September 1, when President Vicente Fox is to delivers his State of the Union speech to the new Congress; September 15, when Independence Day celebrations begin; and soon after any announcement declaring Calderón as winner of the election. August 14: Clashed with the Federal Police (PFP) as supporters of López Obrador attempted to build an encampment in front of the Congress building, the September 1 venue of President Fox's final State of the Nation speech. September 1: In addressing the inaugural session of the new Congress, PRD Senator Carlos Naverrete accused the federal government of violating Article 29 of the Constitution by cordoning off the Congress building, thus curtailing individual freedoms (the decision to defend Congress was taken because of fears that PRD supporters would carry out violent protests in the building.) Other PRD deputies and senators then occupied the podium in the Chamber of Deputies, saying they would remain there until the mass police and military presence was