PRI legislator Gárate accuses Mexican government of 'deaf ears' to protection request amid death threats

PRI legislator Paola Gárate expressed frustration Wednesday, accusing the Mexican government of ignoring her pleas for protection after a funeral wreath was left at her home a week prior. Gárate, a local deputy in Sinaloa, stated that she had requested federal security months earlier due to threats stemming from her critical stance on the state government and the pervasive insecurity in Sinaloa.

"I requested federal security and that has not happened to this day, even despite the subsequent violent incidents I have received," Gárate denounced. She is demanding a risk assessment, as per protocol, to determine her eligibility for federal protection. Gárate questioned what level of danger is required, listing incidents such as a kidnapping, two lawsuits involving individuals on a U.S. list, having a gun pointed at her to steal her truck, and the recent delivery of a funeral wreath to her home.

Gárate believes the wreath was a message not just for her, but for all dissenting voices who speak out against the government and the dire situations in Sinaloa regarding security, the economy, and other matters. Despite the risks, she vowed to continue speaking out. She acknowledged her fear, which she shares with thousands of other Sinaloans, but stated that "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger."

She extended her gratitude to Mexicans, particularly those in Sinaloa who have supported her, and to the media, whom she considers heroes also facing danger. When asked if she feared for her life, Gárate confirmed, "Yes, I am not naive, I am aware of the implications, but all Sinaloans are also afraid." She highlighted that residents must go to work or seek employment despite this fear, and that children in Sinaloa "do not live, they survive."