AILSA CHANG, HOST:
In Mexico, a female died at the arms of police immediately after she was arrested by officers in the resort city of Tulum past weekend. Her dying has sparked an uproar in Mexico, and it is really drawing comparisons to George Floyd’s demise listed here in the U.S. Signing up for us now with extra information is NPR Mexico correspondent Carrie Kahn.
Hey, Carrie.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hello, Ailsa.
CHANG: So what do we know so far about this woman’s dying?
KAHN: Her title was Victoria Esperanza Salazar. She was 36 many years previous from El Salvador, and she’d been residing in Mexico for the earlier 5 yrs on a humanitarian visa, a visa given to refugees. She was dwelling with her two teenage girls in the Caribbean vacation resort city of Tulum. It’s a laid-back holiday place really popular with Us citizens. She cleaned hotel rooms there.
Very last Saturday, police had been identified as just after experiences of Salazar disturbing the peace in a convenience store. Video clips – and Ailsa, the kinds I’ve noticed are very edited – they show police detaining her on a road. There are four officers there. In a person online video, she’s on the ground on her abdomen, and a female officer has her knee on Salazar’s back, striving to handcuff her. You see the woman officer place her hand on Salazar’s neck, and you also listen to Salazar cry out. And the Quintana Roo point out prosecutor has claimed that an autopsy confirmed that Salazar died from a damaged neck and that the pressure applied by officers was – he identified as it – disproportionate. Salazar’s mother, interviewed by press in El Salvador, is outraged.
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ROSIBEL ARRIAZA: (Speaking Spanish).
KAHN: She claims, “I want justice for my daughter.” She suggests, “it really is not right what they did to her.” She suggests she doesn’t know the circumstances of what took place appropriate ahead of the officers ended up named. But it doesn’t issue, claims Salazar’s mother. She mentioned she was a lady who wasn’t armed and was killed.
CHANG: Nicely, however, Carrie, we know that police abuse is not uncommon in Mexico. But why do you believe this case in specific is getting so considerably attention right now?
KAHN: I imagine – like you reported in the introduction, I feel it has a ton to do with the death of George Floyd. The parallels are chilling. Even Salazar’s mother made the comparison. The protests from Floyd’s murder and police abuse, you know, have been worldwide, including below in Mexico. And I assume that is serving to get this case – you know, which in the past would have been ignored – enable receiving it interest. Also, as in Floyd’s case, you can find a online video. You can see this unarmed, smaller-statured female. She’s an immigrant surrounded by four officers. And you just see the brutality of the incident, and it really is currently being widely circulated.
And also, Ailsa, Mexico is a person of the most dangerous nations around the world in the planet for women of all ages. Violence towards ladies here is at epidemic ranges. And the protests and the feminist motion are drawing a good deal of attention to that violence. It really is a expanding movement, and it really is potent listed here.
CHANG: Perfectly, how significantly would you say all of this response eventually displays on Mexico’s president?
KAHN: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador came out quick and robust in Salazar’s situation. You know, he rapidly condemned what he explained was Salazar’s brutal cure and murder. He mentioned that fills us with ache and disgrace, and he states the criminal offense will not go unpunished. The four officers associated in Salazar’s loss of life are all in jail. And appear, Lopez Obrador has had a rocky time of late with women’s legal rights advocates. You know, he would not acquire lightly to criticism that his administration is not condemning (ph) the substantial costs of violence and murder of women in Mexico, but feminists and women’s teams right here have not relented. He faced big protests earlier this thirty day period about the region on Intercontinental Women’s Day, so the handling of this situation is underneath shut scrutiny.
CHANG: That is NPR’s Carrie Kahn.
Thank you, Carrie.
KAHN: You happen to be welcome.
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