Culiacán residents march for peace after two years of cartel violence
Infobae México reports that families, search collectives and other residents marched in Culiacán for peace and security, while speakers called for resilience, safer streets and restored trust in institutions.
Residents of Culiacán marched for peace and security on Sept. 13, two years after fighting between the Los Chapitos and Los Mayos factions of the Sinaloa Cartel began, Infobae México reports. Infobae México says the dispute has been linked in its source account to more than 3,000 killings and approximately 6,000 disappearances, figures presented by the outlet in its report. Families, young people, search collectives and other members of Sinaloa society gathered at 7 a.m. local time for a Mass before beginning the march dressed in white.
Martha Elena Reyes Zazueta, president of Coparmex Sinaloa, told participants that residents should not become accustomed to violence. According to Infobae México's account, Reyes Zazueta said people now notify relatives when they arrive, ask where their children are traveling and worry when someone is late. She said the community was marching for its lives, children and families, including those who are missing or have not returned home. Infobae México reports that white balloons were later prepared for release in memory of people who had been killed or disappeared.
The Mass at La Lomita was led by Jesús José Herrera Quiñónez, bishop of the Diocese of Culiacán, who called for a return to calm and warned against allowing accumulated suffering to become resentment. The source also reports that the bishop said Culiacán needs institutions that protect life and authorities who speak truthfully and work to rebuild trust. Violence has continued in Sinaloa, the report says, including 10 killings in a 24-hour period shortly before the march, with the tourist area of Mazatlán recording the highest number in that account. These casualty details are presented by Infobae México as part of its report.