‘Fed up’: Thousands march against Sinaloa Cartel violence

Culiacan, Mexico witnessed a massive peace march on Sunday as thousands of residents took to the streets to protest the escalating violence caused by rival factions of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. Dressed in white and carrying banners, the protesters released balloons into the sky and marched to the city's cathedral, shouting, "We want peace," and holding signs that read, "I'm fed up with living in fear."

The Catholic Church, alongside business leaders and families of missing persons, organized the demonstration. Bishop Jesus Jose Herrera urged cartel members to cease the bloodshed, stating, "No territory and no ambition is worth more than a human life."

Culiacan has been engulfed in a bitter war between two factions loyal to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the cartel's co-founders who are currently serving life sentences in the United States. The conflict intensified after internal disputes for power and territory. Daily shootouts and roadblocks have resulted in closed businesses and disrupted schooling, making Culiacan the most dangerous city in Mexico.

Since September 2024, over 3,000 people have lost their lives, including numerous civilians caught in the crossfire. Maricela Perez, 62, brought a photo of her son Miguel, who was killed in May during a volleyball game. "We don't want any more deaths like this, any more murders," she expressed her sorrow to AFP. Marlene Leon, 33, added, "We feel abandoned, and we believe this march is a way to express that, despite the passage of time, we have not normalized the violence and we want peace."

President Claudia Sheinbaum has mobilized thousands of soldiers to the state, but despite numerous arrests and drug seizures, the violence persists. On Saturday alone, at least seven individuals lost their lives. Protesters chanted against Sheinbaum, and a cardboard effigy of her was burned by one group. The state's economy, home to 3 million people and significant agricultural output, has suffered due to the unrest.

Over 5,000 businesses closed, causing significant economic hardship, according to Sergio Raul Esquer, a businessman and state leader of the center-left opposition party Movimiento Ciudadano.

US President Donald Trump labeled the Sinaloa Cartel a "foreign terrorist organization" and threatened intervention if Mexican authorities fail to take action.