The Morena Party candidate for mayor, Bertha Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez, 38, was just beginning her campaign when she was fatally shot on a street near Celaya, Guanajuato on April 2, 2024. Her murder represents another addition to the increasing number of political figures targeted in Mexico, underscoring the rise in political violence as the country nears its June elections.
Rather than reverberating with her campaign slogans, the roads of her community were witness to her untimely death. This brutal act is another example of the escalating violence that has claimed the lives of several politicians across Mexico recently.
Gutiérrez’s campaign under the Morena Party banner represented hope for transformation amidst turbulence. Her dreams were abruptly ended on a street near Celaya, a region that also includes several smaller communities.
A video surfacing on social media captured the horrifying scene: a procession for Gaytán, shouts of “Morena!” interrupted by gunfire, which resulted in panic and sorrow among her supporters.
Morena Party leader and current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed profound grief over the loss of party candidates, including Gaytán, though he did not announce any increased security measures for politicians. Alma Alcaraz, a fellow Morena candidate, encapsulated the party’s and possibly the country’s sentiment, stating, “This is something that has us angry, shocked, in mourning.”
Guanajuato’s Governor, Diego Sinhue, declared on the social media platform “X” that the attack would have repercussions and would not be ignored.
Just hours before her death, Gaytán’s social media account demonstrated her unwavering spirit and vision for Celaya. She posted on Facebook: “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 sharply contrasts with the reality of Guanajuato, a state known for having the highest murder rates in Mexico and being dangerous for law enforcement.
The persistent politically driven violence in Mexico is evidenced by the recent murder of the mayor of Churumuco, Michoacan in a taco restaurant in Morelia, the state capital. His 14-year-old son, who was with him, survived the attack.
Moreover, in Michoacan, two mayoral candidates, Miguel Angel Zavala Reyes of Morena and Armando Perez Luna of the National Action Party, were murdered on February 26.
In March, news broke that Tomás Morales, a mayoral candidate, met a violent end in Guerrero, a state on the Pacific coast. In the same state, another mayoral candidate in Atoyac, Alfredo González, was also killed.
This violence is a result of the ongoing conflicts between the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel and the Jalisco cartel. These clashes have not only taken many lives but also pose a threat to the democratic process itself.
The issue of violence in Guanajuato is further emphasized by the fact that more police officers were killed in the state in 2023 than in the entire United States. This violence is not confined to law enforcement or politicians. Ordinary citizens, too, have been affected, as demonstrated by previous attacks that have resulted in the deaths of students, and taxi and bus drivers.
The killing of Gaytán brings to light a bleak truth: political candidates, particularly those seeking change, often become victims. Despite her request for protection during her campaign, she is now part of the growing list of politicians whose lives and ambitions were extinguished by violence.
As Mexico prepares for an election that will not only decide President López Obrador’s successor but also many state and municipal positions, the murders of candidates like Gaytán cast a dark cloud over the democratic proceedings. The violence in Guanajuato and across Mexico not only endangers those bold enough to run for office but also undermines the fundamental tenets of democracy.
