178 Journalists Murdered in Mexico Since 2000, Veracruz Deadliest State

Mexico has witnessed the killing of 178 journalists and communicators since the year 2000, as reported by Article 19, an organization dedicated to defending freedom of expression. The most recent case highlighted involves Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez, a journalist from Veracruz who was kidnapped from her home and found dead over a month after her disappearance.

Article 19’s data indicates that Veracruz is the most lethal state for journalists, recording 34 victims. Guerrero follows with 19 cases, and Chihuahua, Oaxaca, and Tamaulipas each have 15. The organization's figures show that between 2000 and the present, 165 men and 13 women working in journalism have been killed, representing 93% men and 7% women.

The grim statistics span across multiple presidential administrations. Felipe Calderón's presidency (2006-2012) recorded the highest number of murders with 48 cases. The administrations of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Enrique Peña Nieto each saw 47 cases, while Vicente Fox's term had 22 victims. Ernesto Zedillo's presidency had three reported cases, and the current administration has recorded 11.

Article 19 is demanding justice for Roxana Guzmán and all 178 journalists who have lost their lives. The organization also noted that Aguascalientes, Campeche, Colima, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, and Yucatán are the least violent states for journalists, with no recorded fatal attacks in the past 26 years. The year 2022 was the deadliest for journalism, with 13 murders.

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justice for Roxana Guzmán, although, she affirmed, she continues to demand justice and truth for the 178 journalists who died throughout the country.