Thousands of residents in Culiacán, Mexico, took to the streets on Sunday to protest the escalating violence and disappearances that have plagued the city since a conflict erupted between two factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Participants, many dressed in white, carried signs with messages such as "We don't want fear, we want peace," and held up photographs of missing loved ones. The protest coincided with the second anniversary of the cartel feud, which began after the arrest of drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in the United States. His followers, known as La Mayiza, allege betrayal by "Los Chapitos," a faction led by the son of the cartel's founder, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The conflict between the two factions has led to ambushes, drive-by shootings, and roadblocks where trucks are hijacked and set ablaze, increasingly drawing civilians into the violence. Official figures indicate a surge in murders, disappearances, extortions, and robberies across the state of Sinaloa.
The march was organized by a coalition of victims' families, local businesses, civil society groups, and the Catholic Church. Sergio Esquer, a businessman and local politician, stated that over 5,000 businesses have closed since the feud began, highlighting the severe economic impact on the region.
During a Mass that preceded the protest, the bishop of Culiacán urged members of the warring groups to cease their violence, emphasizing the value of human life over power, money, or territory.
Among the attendees were relatives of a one-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout in the city last week. The ongoing violence has created an atmosphere of pervasive fear among residents.
Sinaloa has also experienced political turmoil recently. In April, U.S. prosecutors accused the state's governor, Rubén Rocha, and nine other officials of conspiring with Los Chapitos to smuggle drugs. Rocha, who has denied the allegations, took a temporary leave of absence while Mexican authorities investigated. He returned to his post three weeks ago but later requested another leave after President Claudia Sheinbaum alluded to "power without principles" on social media.