Demonstration against Insecurity and Corruption in Mexico City
By Luis Franco
4 September 2008
Last saturday, august 30th, 2008 the civil organization (Iluminemos México, Let's Lighten Up Mexico) called for a demonstration on many cities around Mexico, to protest against violence, insecurity and impunity.
In the last few years violence has been escalating in the whole country, but specially in big cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey), and in Northern Mexico where crime is associated to drug producers and dealers. Almost everybody has somehow been affected by crime, being myself a victim since my house was asaulted about two months ago.
Another serious concern is related to kidnapping: many have been kidnapped and their families asked for ransom. In most of the cases the victim is returned to his/her loved ones; but in some cases, even with a paid ransom, the victim may not be that lucky.
About a month before the demonstration was called, another kidnapping occured, in this case a 14 years old boy, son of one of the welthiest families in Mexico. His bodyguard was injured and his car driver was killed. They were ambushed by 8 to 12 individuals dressed as federal policemen. The criminals asked for a huge sum of money and sent the body of the chaufer as a message to the family; several negotiation days went by, and the family agreed to gave the amount asked, just later that the kid was anyhow murdered.
This case was "the drop that spilled the glass" and several civil organizations started to work on this demonstration. A few days before it several government officers had a meeting on National Security, at this meeting Mr. Alejandro Martí, father of the murdered kid was present, he asked the President and other officers on a very emotional speech "If you think the bar is too high, if you think you can't handle this situation, resign." Mr. Martí spoke for many of us whom will never have access to the President or other high ranking government officers.
This demonstration was the answer of the civil society who is demanding more security and to halt corruption and impunity in the country.
The pictures are from the demonstration in Mexico City, held in the most important street in the country, Paseo de la Reforma. Nobody dared to give an estimate on how many people participated that day, but I believe a conservative figure would be 500,000. Lots of families came with children, elders and even some with small kids on strollers. Most of the people were dressed in white and were carrying a small candle to be lit later that night. At 20:30 everybody sang the National Anthem, there were neither speeches nor political messages, just a crowd of citizens demanding action from our government.
