Mexico: One Year After Birth of “Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity”

The Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity [es] lead by former poet Javier Sicilia celebrated its first birthday on March 28, 2012; in other words, it's been a year since the assassination of his son Juan Francisco Sicilia whose body was found along with other victims of the violence in Mexico in the community of Las Brisas in Temixco, Morelos.

National newspapers like Milenio [es] reported the activities that took place in remembrance of the anniversary:

Con la asistencia de unas cien personas, cantidad mucho menor a la que lo acompañó hace un año, Javier Sicilia, Julián LeBarón y familiares de otras víctimas de la delincuencia iniciaron la jornada de 12 horas para conmemorar el aniversario de la muerte del hijo del poeta y de otros seis jóvenes, cuyos cuerpos fueron hallados en el fraccionamiento Las Brisas, en Temixco, Morelos.

En la fuente de la Paloma de la Paz, Sicilia señaló que la ausencia de más acompañantes en este aniversario se debe a que la sociedad ya aprendió a tolerar lo intolerable y que, de cara a los comicios electorales, quien en realidad pierde, consideró, es la sociedad.

A un año del multihomicidio, Sicilia declaró que no hay justicia en este caso porque hasta ahora no hay ninguna persona sentenciada.

With the attendance of approximately one hundred people, a lot less than the crowd that joined him last year, Javier Sicilia, Julián LeBarón and family members started the 12 hour activity schedule to remember the anniversary of the death of the poet's son and six other young men whose bodies were found in the community of Las Brisas, in Temixco, Morelos.

At the fountain of the Peace Dove, Sicilia pointed out that the absence of more attendants was explained because people have learned to tolerate the intolerable and that the biggest loser, facing an election year, was the society itself.

A year after the massive murder, Sicilia declared that there has not been justice in the case because until now, no one has been declared guilty nor sentenced.

During 2011 there were several protests like this one in Puebla. Image by Flickr user FotoyMensaje under Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

During 2011 there were several protests like this one in Puebla. Image by Flickr user FotoyMensaje under Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Karina González for The Narcosphere remembered the movement origins:

The MPJD began with a letter from the poet Javier Sicilia, when he lost his 24-year-old son, Jaunelo, as a result of the violence of the war. With the cry of “Estamos hasta la madre!” (“We're fed up!”), thousands of Mexican citizens overcame their fear and poured into the streets in protest of the war.  One year ago, the movement that was born in Morelos inspired thousands of Mexicans to denounce the effects of the war and to bring to life the stories of the victims.

As part of this anniversary, the blog Mexicans in Switzerland for Peace [es] spread the following letter of support:

Nosotros, Mexicanos viviendo en Suiza; Manifestamos con fuerza que la distancia que nos separa fisicamente de nuestro país, es nada cuando nuestros corazones se quedaron en México. Amamos, respetamos y sufrimos de igual manera que ustedes. El clima de violencia por el cual atraviesa nuestro país nos duele profundamente y nos indigna.

Por eso queremos decirles que desde Suiza estamos con ustedes en la lucha, Aún así, estando a miles de kilómetros. Porque como dice el escritor alemán Bertolot Brecht : « Quien lucha, puede perder. Quien no lucha, ya ha perdido.”

Con ustedes luchando por un México en paz.

We, the Mexicans living in Switzerland strongly demonstrate that the distance that physically separates us from our country does not mean anything when our hearts stayed in Mexico. We love, respect and suffer the same way that you do. The violent period that our country is going through hurts us deeply and outrages us.

That is why we want to tell you, from Switzerland, that we are together in this fight. Even like this, thousands of miles away. Because, as the German writer Bertolot Brecht said: “Those who fight may lose. But those who don't fight have already lost”.

With you fighting for a peaceful Mexico.

Animal Político [es] gathered some of Sicilia's anecdotes about his dead son, particularly his fondness for football and for a specific team:

“Mi hijo Juan tenía una sola falla –se lamenta Javier Sicilia–: era americanista, en eso nunca lo pudimos corregir”. El poeta mira a su costado, donde su compadre, Francisco, corrobora sus palabras con un gesto afirmativo de la cabeza.

“My son Juan had only one fault – Javier Sicilia regrets-: he was an America Club fan, we could never correct that”. The poet looked to the side, where his friend Francisco corroborates his words with an affirmative gesture.

On Twitter, Presidential pre-candidate Josefina Vázquez (@JosefinaVM) [es] did not miss the opportunity to get attention by sending a message to Javier Sicilia:

Un abrazo solidario a Javier Sicilia, Gaby Cadena y los padres de los jóvenes asesinados hace un año. Su lucha no es en vano.

A hug of solidarity for Javier Sicilia, Gaby Cadena and the parents of the murdered young men. Their fight is not in vain.

Journalist Katia D'Artigues (@kdartigues) [es] also pondered about the anniversary of the death of Sicilia's son:

Hace un año, hoy, Javier Sicilia estaba a unas horas de que le cambiara su vida.

A year ago, today, Javier Sicilia was hours away from a life-changing moment.

User @lafalconielsa [es] expressed her feelings about the activist:

Dirán lo que quieran, pero yo amo a Javier Sicilia

Say what you want, but I love Javier Sicilia

User @roblesmaloof [es] didn't limit himself to talk only about the Sicilia family, he also dedicated a tweet to another victim that is being represented by the Movement of Peace with Justice and Dignity:

Hoy como todos los días, pensamos en don #Nepomuceno Moreno, quien como muchas madres y padres, fue asesinado por buscar a su hijo #MPJD

Today, as every day, we think of Mr. #Nepomuceno Moreno, who like many mothers and fathers, was assassinated for looking for his son #MPJD

You can read more reactions and reports on this anniversary by following the hashtags #MPJD, #hastalamadre (fed up), #AniversarioMPJD. Besides, the Movement's official Twitter account (@MxLaPazMx) [es] informed its followers about the activities that took place during the day.

Like Global Voices reported since August 2011, Sicilia's activism and the movement he leads have caused countless opinions and reactions on the Internet that seem to suggest that despite differences of opinion, there is a common hope that the situation of violence in this North American country change for the sake of all Mexicans.

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