If all goes as planned, thousands of Mexicans will march in the streets tonight. They are hoping that a mass of people, walking silently, carrying candles or lanterns, will have an effect on the tide of violence sweeping the country.
The march, named "Iluminemos Mexico" or "Let’s Illuminate Mexico," is evidence of the frustration Mexican citizens are feeling against the rising gang violence plaguing the country. Even though Mexican President Felipe Calderon has increased police and military presence, the killings have increased rather than diminished. The march is further spurred by the kidnapping and killing of Fernando Marti, the 14-year-old son of a Mexico City businessman, the discovery of 12 headless bodies near Cancun, and the arrests of police officers accused of running kidnapping gangs.
A similar march four years ago in Mexico City drew 250,000 people, but the amount of crime, coupled with citizens’ frustration have grown in the intervening years. This year’s march goes beyond Mexico City and includes about 60 cities. Mexicans in eight cities abroad, such as Houston, Chicago, Madrid and London, also plan to march.
The march could create some waves in the country. The rally in 2004 failed because no action was taken afterward. This year’s organizers plan to present Calderon with a 10-point plan of their own to fight crime and will follow up on progress.
Organizers expect the march and media attention to result in increased spending on crime and legislation to toughen laws. It is hoped the protest will unite citizens and motivate them to keep the pressure on elected officials.
“Against organized crime, we have a society that’s completely disorganized,” an organizer said. “We want a society that’s more committed and more participatory. We believe this is the way to move forward.”
Last week, in advance of the march, Calderon drew up a 74-point anti-crime plan. It calls for better police recruiting, firing bad cops, fighting money laundering, building more jails and developing an anti-kidnapping strategy. More powerful automatic weapons will also be made available to the police.
Cleaning up the country’s police departments is no easy task. In some towns, resources are so scarce that officers must share guns. It’s difficult to keep people on the force when their colleagues are killed, one after the other.
The country is also dealing with a police force whose officers have only a primary education, making it impossible for them to rise to a high salary level. Officers like these are vulnerable to lucrative offers from criminal gangs.
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