Residents in white protest more than 3,000 deaths after two years of internal conflict between rival groups.
Thousands of people dressed in white marched through the streets of Culiacán on Sunday to demand an end to the deadly violence stemming from a bitter war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Protesters gathered after a morning mass at the Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in La Lomita before releasing dozens of white balloons into the sky and proceeding toward the city’s cathedral. They chanted “We want peace” and carried signs reading “I’m fed up with living in fear” and “Sinaloa, stand up.”
Culiacán Residents Demand End to Cartel Violence:
The demonstration was organised by the Catholic Church, business leaders and families of the disappeared. Local Bishop Jesús José Herrera called on the armed groups to halt the bloodshed, stating: “No territory and no ambition is worth more than a human life.”
The internal conflict erupted in September 2024 following the arrest and extradition of longtime cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States. It has pitted factions loyal to Zambada’s allies (often called Los Mayitos or Los Mayos) against those aligned with the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, known as Los Chapitos. Both Guzmán and Zambada are now serving lengthy sentences in the US.
In the two years since the fighting began, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Sinaloa state, according to local tallies, including many civilians caught in crossfire. Thousands more have been reported missing. Daily shootouts, road blockades, business closures and school suspensions have become common, turning Culiacán into one of Mexico’s most dangerous cities.
Marchers included relatives of victims. Maricela Pérez, 62, carried a portrait of her 36-year-old son Miguel, who was shot dead in May on a volleyball court. “We don’t want any more deaths like this, any more murders,” she said through tears.
Thousands Rally Against Cartel Violence in Culiacán:
Business representatives and ordinary residents stressed that the protest was non-partisan and focused solely on reclaiming security. Organisers estimated attendance in the thousands, with some counts reaching around 10,000, while others claimed higher figures.
The violence has continued unabated despite deployments of federal security forces. Just days before the march, multiple killings were reported across the state, underscoring the sense of exhaustion among residents who say they can no longer live in constant fear.
As the crowd filled the streets of the state capital, the message was clear: after two years of relentless bloodshed between the cartel’s competing factions, the people of Culiacán are demanding that the killings stop and that authorities take effective action to restore peace.