With femicides rising in Sonora, women marched in the capital Hermosillo over the weekend.
Several hundred people — mostly women — arrived at the state judiciary Sunday evening, demanding action on the disturbing trend, according to video provided by local outlet Proyecto Puente.
As KJZZ previously reported, femicides and female murder victims in Sonora jumped significantly in 2019 to a combined 117. They also rose nationally.
“There’s an exasperation among young women, from all women, but young women in particular,” said Silvia Nuñez, head of the Sonoran arm of the National Citizens Observatory on Femicide, who served as an observer during the march. “They’re the group who’s most vulnerable, at most risk, those that are being assaulted.”
When the lights were turned off at the judiciary, some protesters broke into the building, setting a fire with documents, breaking windows and causing other damage. There were no reports of injuries.
In an interviewwith Uniradio Noticias, State Supreme Court President Francisco Gutierrez condemned the property damage and said his office wasn’t an appropriate target for the protest.
“We support their protests, we support their demonstrations, but we reject violence,” he said.
Both Gutierrez and Hermosillo Mayor Célida López called for investigations of those responsible for the damage. In a Sunday evening tweet, López said “the state must investigate, and proceed legally. Out of respect to the majority who participated peacefully. It’s critical that those responsible be identified.”
