38-year-old Morena Party candidate, Bertha Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez was tragically killed on April 2, 2024, during the early stages of her mayoral campaign. The incident occurred on a street in a town near Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. Her death symbolizes the escalating political violence in Mexico, as the country readies for the June elections.
The streets that were set to reverberate with her campaign chants instead became the stage of her tragic end. This incident continues the disturbing trend of political violence that has taken the lives of several politicians in Mexico recently.
Launching her campaign under Morena, a party advocating transformation amid upheaval, Gutiérrez’s ambitions were abruptly halted on a street in the vicinity of Celaya, an area that includes smaller neighboring communities.
A video circulating on social media captured the grim moment when a parade for Gaytán was suddenly interrupted by gunshots. This sparked panic and sorrow among her supporters.
The leading figure of Morena, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, expressed profound grief over the loss of party candidates, including Gaytán, but did not announce any additional security measures for politicians. Morena candidate Alma Alcaraz encapsulated the sentiment of the party and possibly the entire nation, stating, “This is something that has us angry, shocked, in mourning.”
Guanajuato’s governor, Diego Sinhue, issued a statement on the social media platform “X” vowing that the attack would have repercussions and would not be ignored.
Just hours before her untimely demise, Gaytán’s social media account portrayed a determined spirit ready to face future challenges. She posted her aspirations for Celaya on Facebook, stating: “In unity and with firm commitment, we aim to realize the transformation we deeply yearn for. Our goal is a Celaya where all can flourish; we seek significant change.”
This optimism stood in stark contrast to the violent reality in Guanajuato, a state with the highest homicide rates in Mexico and known for being hazardous for law enforcement.
Across Mexico, politically driven violence is rampant, as evidenced by the recent murder of the mayor of Churumuco, Michoacan, who was killed in a taco restaurant in Morelia, the state capital, while accompanied by his 14-year-old son who survived the attack.
Furthermore, two mayoral candidates in Michoacan, Miguel Angel Zavala Reyes from Morena and Armando Perez Luna from the National Action Party were murdered on February 26.
In March, reports surfaced of the violent death of Tomás Morales, a mayoral candidate in Guerrero, a state along the Pacific coast. Alfredo González, another mayoral candidate in Atoyac, Guerrero, was also killed.
The violence is reflective of the ongoing conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel and the Jalisco cartel, which has led to numerous casualties and now threatens to undermine the democratic process itself.
More police officers were killed in Guanajuato in 2023 than in the entire United States, further emphasizing the state’s struggle with violence. This violence is not confined to law enforcement or politicians, with civilians often caught in the crossfire, as demonstrated by previous attacks that have left students, bus and cab drivers, and tourists dead.
Gaytán’s murder highlights a grim reality in Mexico; political candidates who dare to seek change often become targets. Despite her request for campaign protection, she has become one of the many politicians whose potential and dedication were extinguished by violence.
As Mexico gears up for an election that will not only decide President López Obrador’s successor but also numerous state and municipal positions, the murders of candidates like Gaytán cast a dark shadow over the democratic process. The violence in Guanajuato and across Mexico poses a threat to those courageous enough to run for office, and it also destabilizes the very pillars of democracy.
