April 6, 2011
After Mexican poet Javier Sicilia’s son was killed by a drug cartel in March, he issued an open letter directed at Mexico’s politicians and cartels. The letter established the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity and announced a march on 6 April. Protesters gathered in 40 cities. They made clear their displeasure with both the government and cartels. The slogan “estamos hasta la madre – no mas sangre” (We have had enough – no more blood) was a rallying cry for protesters. 20,000 people gathered in Mexico City’s main Zocalo Square. Cuernavaca, the town where Sicilia’s son died, had 50,00 people at its protest, the largest in the history of Morelos state. Protesters marched to a nearby military base, demanding that soldiers reduce their role combating the drug trade.
