Another Pandemic: Police Brutality Outbreak in Mexico

2020 was a life-changing year for everyone around the world. Not only were we living through the historic Coronavirus pandemic, but the we all witnessed one of the “best countries” repeatedly murder its citizens. The names of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmuad Arbery (to list a few) were shouted and reposted across protestsacross the nation and social media platforms. 

The political environment of the United States became the most tense over face masks, vaccines, race and blue lives. Topics such as mass incarceration, abolishing the police, and racial inequality rose as we neared a Presidential election. 

Fast forward a year later, and the list of victims killed in the hands of law enforcement keeps growing. . The term “police brutality” expands from beatings, to indiscriminate use of riot controls, to killings, according to Amnesty International. It is a given that police brutality sees no borders. Most recently, we see the brokenness of justice systems in Tulum, Mexico; where this past Saturday, March 27, a Salvadoran woman, Victoria Salazar Arriaza was announced dead. The state prosecutor reported a broken vertebrae- as a result of being knelt on by police officers. 

At this point, these devastating events are no longer surprising. The public is fed up. I am tired of seeing red and blue lights represent blood and tears of loss, grief, and suffering instead of protection, service, and trust. 

What makes policing institutions so complex? Why are countries struggling to maintain order within authority and citizen encounters? And how do we combat those in power taking advantage of that power? 

      The case in Tulum “echoes'' that of George Floyed- in the words of The Washington Post. I think it certainly reinforces the human right violations of law enforcement, but also reminds us of the institutionalized corruption in Mexico; corruption stemmed on drugs, crime, greedy leaders, violence against women and journalists. 

The Mexican government is known for covering and participating in organized bribes and crimes. The machista ideologies run deep in the society and therefore do not protect women or their rights. Police brutality also broke out on the International Women’s Day protest in Mexico city, were feminist marched for victims of violence. The drug cartels have the biggest influence on government officials and policy. Journalist’s are murdered or go missing with no investigations. Brooking’s doubts the state's progress saying, “The country has managed to develop a pluralistic political system, conduct credible elections, and nonviolently effectuate changes of national leadership. But the country continues to suffer from poor governance..” Radical change is the only option, not only for Mexico’s government, but for policing worldwide. Enough is enough. 

Felbab-Brown, Vanda. “The Ills and Cures of Mexico's Democracy.” Brookings, Brookings, 25 Nov. 2019, www.brookings.edu/research/the-ills-and-cures-of-mexicos-democracy/. 

Hajjaji, Danya. “Who Was Victoria Salazar? Woman's Death at Tulum Police Hands Evokes George Floyd.” Newsweek, Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2021, www.newsweek.com/victoria-salazar-death-tulum-police-george-floyd-1579530. 

Jennifer Hassan, Mary Beth Sheridan. “In Echo of George Floyd Killing, a Woman Dies after Police in Mexico Pin Her Down.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 Mar. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/29/tulum-police-death-victoria/. 

“POLICE VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD.” Amnesty International USA, www.amnestyusa.org/issues/deadly-force-police-accountability-police-violence/.