Journalist Ernesto Méndez, director of the media outlet “Tu Voz”, located in the state of Guanajuato, has been murdered in Mexico. With him, 13 journalists have been killed so far in 2022 in the neighboring country, making him one of the most dangerous for those who practice any type of journalism.
The organization Article 19 announced the unfortunate news through its account Twitter, where he specified that there was a history of threats against the victim, for which reason he called on the Special Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression - FEADLE - and the Attorney General's Office - FGR - to take on the case and consider his informative work as a motive for the crime.
With Ernesto, 13 journalists have been murdered so far in 2022, at least 9 of them linked to their work.
"We demand that the Mexican State act urgently to stop this phenomenon and we join in the grief of Ernesto's family, friends and colleagues," the organization said.
According to initial reports of the murder, the journalist was in a bar with other people when an armed group burst in and opened fire, leaving a total of four people dead and two wounded.
Ernesto Méndez became the thirteenth journalist to be murdered this year. On June 29, Antonio de la Cruz, a reporter for the newspaper El Expreso, was killed in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. In May, Yesenia Mollinedo, director of the El Veraz website, and reporter Johana García from the same outlet, were gunned down in front of a convenience store.
These murders are in addition to those of Lourdes Maldonado and Margarito Martinez in Tijuana, Baja California; Heber Lopez Cruz in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca; Juan Carlos Muniz in Fresnillo, Zacatecas; Jorge Camero Zazueta in Empalme, Sonora; Roberto Toledo in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; Jose Luis Gamboa in Veracruz, Veracruz; Armando Linares in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; and Luis Enrique Ramirez in Culiacan, Sinaloa.
From this media outlet located in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, we deeply condemn the murders of Mexican journalists who seek to freely and safely carry out their journalistic work in Mexico, while, as fellow citizens, we demand that the government clarify, resolve and exercise the full weight of the law against those who took the lives of these and all the murdered journalists.
We also demand that all reporters, photographers, cameramen, writers, editors and other journalistic positions be protected by the State, because, although our media is focused on the Latino community in California, we have collaborators who carry out their work in Mexico and today their integrity is compromised.
You may be interested in: Journalist Antonio de la Cruz murdered in Mexico, his murder makes 12 so far this year
