Culiacán's missing spark protests as new governor takes office

In Culiacán, May 10 was not a day for celebration but for protest. Hundreds of photographs of missing persons lined the steps of the city’s cathedral, surrounded by flowers. Families and activists gathered to demand continued action on disappearances as a new governor prepares to take office. Collectives of searching mothers and supporters assembled outside the Culiacán Cathedral. They placed images of the missing alongside floral tributes, turning the steps into a visual plea for justice. From there, a march moved toward the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE).

María Isabel Cruz, founder of Guerreras Search Dogs, spoke on behalf of the group. She read a statement warning that the disappearance of their children would not fade as a political priority with the change in leadership. Addressing incoming governor Yeraldine Bonilla, Cruz urged her not to slow searches or let the fight lose strength. Cruz also offered advice to the new governor. She stressed the need to engage directly—listening, walking with activists, and understanding the realities of field searches. If Bonilla lacks experience in managing such efforts, Cruz insisted she must learn quickly. The group’s message was clear: the search for the missing must continue without pause.

The protest ended with a direct call to the next administration. The searching mothers demanded ongoing commitment to their cause. Their actions on May 10 underscored that, for them, the fight for answers remains urgent and unresolved.