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News (Media Awareness Project) - Mexico: Mexico Marches Over Deadly Cost Of War On Drugs
Title:Mexico: Mexico Marches Over Deadly Cost Of War On Drugs
Published On:2011-05-10
Source:Independent (UK)
Fetched On:2011-05-13 06:02:03
MEXICO MARCHES OVER DEADLY COST OF WAR ON DRUGS

Tired of innocent bloodshed, 90,000 people have participated in a
"silent march" in Mexico City to protest against the country's
strategy in its "war on drugs", which is estimated to have claimed
more than 35,000 lives.

The march, which began three days ago, was led by the poet and
journalist Javier Sicilia, whose 24-year-old son was murdered in
March. Behind Sicilia, families of victims marched in silence through
Mexico City's avenues, holding photos of their lost ones, while young
participants covered in red paint held banners bearing slogans "no
more blood" and "we're fed up".

"The movement has allowed us to tell our son's story so he doesn't
just become another number," says Michelle Mendez, whose son was
killed last year. Sicilia has been applauded for unifying the
participants. The diverse march was joined by students, trade unions,
human rights groups and professionals. Similar protests were held
throughout the country.

At busy intersections, local families camped out, waiting to get a
glimpse of the protest and cheer as it went by. "This is what all
Mexicans want, we all want peace," said Margarita Rodiguez a
50-year-old English teacher. The march ended in the city's main Zocalo
Square, where protesters gathered to hear speeches by Sicilia and from
other relatives of victims.

The protest leaders called for an end to President Calderon's "drug
war", claiming that the increase in military campaigns to stop the
drug cartels is only escalating the violence and increasing civilian
deaths.

Sicilia said: "The corruption at the heart and the root of the
institutions has overtaken us."

Before the march, Calderon rejected the movement's calls, saying the
war on drugs was the responsibility of all civilians and an end would
allow drug cartels impunity.

But few seemed to be listening as thousands came together to silently
show their outrage at the escalating violence. The movement's next
plan is to organise an anti-violence pact to be signed in Ciudad Juarez.
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