Activist Patricia Duarte, mother of Andrés Alonso, one of the 49 children who died in the ABC Daycare fire, which occurred 16 years ago, called for the “March for Justice for the Victims of Waldo’s”, an incident that last Saturday claimed the lives of 23 people and left another 15 injured, three of them still hospitalized.
The demonstration, called by the June 5 Movement, made up mainly of the parents of the fatal victims of the tragic daycare fire in the city of Hermosillo, will take place this Wednesday, November 5.
The contingent will depart from the Placa Emiliana de Zubeldía, where what Duarte called the “anti-monument to the State crime of the ABC Daycare” is located, at 5:00 p.m., and will advance towards the Government Palace of Sonora.
Check out: Solvent and chemical factory catches fire in the Industrial Zone of Guadalajara
Duarte asked attendees to wear black clothing, as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims.
“To the families of the victims of the Waldo’s store fire we say that you are not alone, just as we have never been alone.”
“We know exactly what you are going through. Our thoughts and hearts are with you from the first minute we knew the magnitude of the fire,” said Duarte.
The activist acknowledged through tears that, despite years of struggle, the country has not managed to prevent similar tragedies from being repeated.
“For 16 years we have fought so that a tragedy like that of our sons and daughters would not be repeated… Sorry, we failed them”said.
“It’s the same corruption from 16 years ago,” he accused, noting that the fire at the Waldo’s store has “many similarities” with what happened in 2009 at the ABC Daycare, for which he again denounced institutional negligence and corruption between the three levels of government.
Stay informed: LATEST details of the disappearance of the former mayor of Zinapécuaro
“It is the corruption that occurs among civil protection authorities that are supposed to safeguard the integrity of citizens, but they do not. It is the same thing that happened 16 years ago: the same Prosecutor’s Office altered the crime scene, and I have no doubt that the same thing has happened now,” he asserted.
He also criticized the lack of responsibility on the part of state and municipal authorities.
“We are fed up with state crimes,” said Patricia Duarte, visibly affected.
He recalled that the June 5 Movement has insisted for more than a decade on the non-repetition of tragedies such as that of the ABC Nursery, but regretted that government omissions continue to put lives at risk.
“What happened on Saturday is proof that it can happen again. We are tired of state crimes, because that’s what they are. 16 years of struggle have not been enough,” he said.
Finally, he called on citizens to accompany the march and on the families of the victims not to be afraid.
“On Saturday I cried with anger, with helplessness, with frustration. But we are still standing. They are not alone,” he concluded.
Read also: Mexico and the US review progress of the campaign against the screwworm
* * * Stay up to date with the news, join our whatsapp channel * * *
MB