Riots erupted in Western Mexico where protesters set fire to one police officer and physically clashed with several others. Rioters also set fire to multiple police vehicles. The incidents were not over the BLM protests in America, but to protest the death of a local day laborer who was allegedly killed by police for not wearing a coronavirus mask.
The riots began on Thursday evening in Guadalajara, Jalisco, when hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding justice over the death of Alejandro Giovanni Lopez at the hands of local police officers in May.
Le prenden fuego a un oficial durante manifestación convocada para pefir justicia por la muerte de #GiovaniLópez.
El reporte de @Danyberumenn@quierotv_gdl @LiborioRG @Kevin_Esqueda @karifuerte @_perlaburciaga pic.twitter.com/rLQJUyGE8E
— Moisés Hernández (@MoisesHDS) June 5, 2020
One protester can be seen in a video recorded during the riot throwing flammable liquid on a police officer and setting him on fire. While the fire was quickly put out, the violence continued into the night.
La escalada de violencia continúa en las calles de Guadalajara. Aquí el momento en que se prende fuego a uno de los policías; las detenciones se están dando de manera intensa.
Cobertura: @Mariomarlo pic.twitter.com/tFbd0eGWrl
— ZonaDocs (@ZonaDocs) June 5, 2020
During the riots, the officers torched numerous police vehicles and spray-painted various government buildings. Government officials did not release any statistics regarding injuries or arrests during the riots.
Guadalajara, hace unos momentos pic.twitter.com/G8VzEQIpqC
— Pascal BeltrandelRio (@beltrandelrio) June 4, 2020
On Thursday, Jalisco Attorney General Gerardo Solis Gomez revealed in a televised news conference that several police officers from the town of Ixtlahuacan were under investigation for the possible charges of homicide and abuse of power.
Policías en Guadalajara, Jalisco, agreden con palos y piedras a manifestantes y fotoperiodistas en la marcha para exigir justicia para Giovanni. pic.twitter.com/njrcl9HAzR
— Siker (@sikernews) June 5, 2020
According to state officials, the police officers arrested Lopez on May 4 for an administrative violation. While state officials did not reveal the violation behind the arrest, relatives claim it was for not wearing a coronavirus facemask. Police officers are believed to have beaten and tortured Lopez until he eventually died. One of Lopez’s relatives took a video of the arrest and shared it on social media where the police officers can be seen striking the day laborer.
Elementos de la policía municipal de Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco, son investigados por el homicidio calificado cometido en agravio de Govanni López de 30 años de edad, de oficio albañil quien fue detenido porque no portaba cubrebocas en hechos ocurridos el 4 de Mayo. pic.twitter.com/w04EXOBepW
— JALISCO ROJO (@JaliscoRojo) June 3, 2020
After the murder, the victim’s relatives claim that the town mayor offered them $200,000 pesos to remain silent and then threatened them. According to Jalisco’s Attorney General, the mayor is expected to go before investigators on Friday.
During the week, the case gained national attention in Mexico and even Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro took to social media to demand justice and to invite the public to protest.
@FiscaliaJal @EnriqueAlfaroR @CNDH @FGRMexico A mas de un mes, no hay respuestas, no hay arrestos. No es abuso de autoridad. Es asesinato. El sinsentido- la locura absoluta- es que ocurra un asesinato a nombre de un asunto de salud publica. https://t.co/0OscxjSBtt
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) June 4, 2020
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.
Tony Aranda from Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project contributed to this report
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