Security & Strategic Review May 2011 (ISSN 1741-4202)

A multiple killing with seven victims triggered in early May a wave of demonstrations and marches across Mexico that culminated with tens of thousands in front of the presidential palace demanding an end to violence and a change in the government's antidrugs policy. The driving force behind this upheaval was the poet and columnist Javier Sicilia, father of one of the victims — who has been calling explicitly for a pact with the drug cartels. With elections looming, President Felipe Calderón felt compelled to hold two successive personal meetings with Sicilia.