In Mexico's supersized election, a wave of assassinations has put democracy itself in the crosshairs
By David Shortell, CNN
7 minute read
Published 12:01 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2024
Security forces patrol the streets after the murder of Armando Perez Luna, a Mayor candidate murdered last Monday, in Maravatio, Michoacan state, Mexico on February 27, 2024. Enrique Castro/AFP/Getty Images
CNN
—
Jesús Corona Damián, a candidate for mayor in Cuautla, Mexico, was in a car near his home one evening last month when two men on a motorcycle sped past and opened fire.
The day before, a local gang had sent him a threat, so that night he drove behind inches of bulletproof glass. He survived, and in remarks to reporters after the attack, struck a defiant note: “Enough of living in fear, I’m not dropping out.”
Few of the aspiring politicians targeted by Mexico’s cartels in the run-up to the country’s largest election in history have been given the chance for such resistance.
Political candidates across the country are being assassinated with staggering frequency as the powerful groups seek to clear the field for their preferred picks.
More:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/11/americas/mexico-election-assassination-intl-latam/index.html