4,000 Plead for Help to Make Juárez Safe

El Paso Times

Elena Hernandez, 50, and her grandson march with at least 4,000 Juarenses to ask their government to do more for peace in the city. Alicia Ruiz Hernandez, Hernandez's daughter, was murdered two months ago at a bakery, the elder Hernandez said.

Juarez, MX -- At least 4,000 people -- the same number of people killed in two years in Juárez -- united in Mexico's deadliest city Sunday.

Their message was clear: peace.

Adults and children carried white flags, white flowers and signs asking for a stop to the violence. They chanted, "Paz por Juárez (peace for Juárez)" and "Juárez unido, jamás será vencido! (Juárez united will never be defeated)."

They walked steadily, rhythmically and punched fists and peace signs in the air.

The demonstration began beneath the massive Mexican flag at Chamizal Park about noon. Protesters then walked more than two miles on Heroico Colegio Militar Avenue to city hall. Mexican federal, state and transit police with assault rifles lined the parade route.

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Women in Black March on Ciudad Juarez

A caravan aimed at upholding women’s rights and stopping violence against women in Ciudad Juarez and Mexico is headed to the U.S. border. Organized by Women in Black along with other women’s and human rights organizations, the caravan set off from Mexico City on November 10.

Prominent Chihuahua City women’s activist Irma Campos Madrigal spoke to about 100 people gathered in the Mexican capital as the Exodus for the Life of Women prepared to embark on its journey.

“The great distance between Mexico City and the old Paso del Norte is shorter than the breadth of impunity,” Campos said, “but never greater than the demand for justice for women murdered in the city in which [Benito Juarez], present here today, and the lay Republic, found refuge in during the 19th Century.”

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