Mexico: CFWIJ condemns the assault and detention of four photojournalists by the police

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March 9, 2021— Four photojournalists were assaulted and detained by the police in Mexico City on Monday. Graciela López of Agencia Cuartoscuro, Sashenka Gutierrez of EFE News, Gabriela Esquivel from Daily 24 Hour, and Leslie Pérez from Heraldo de México were detained. The journalists were covering the demonstrations held to commemorate International Women's Day in Mexico City. The celebrations turned into violent protests as the police deployed tear-gassed and started arresting participants. While covering the chaos, the photojournalists were attacked and handcuffed by the police. CFWIJ condemns police brutality against journalists. We urge Mexican authorities to hold the officers accountable for their unjustified targeting of the press. 

Gabriela Esquivel, photojournalist at Daily 24 Hour, spoke to CFWIJ saying “On Women’s Day, around 1:00 PM in the afternoon I was together with three fellow photojournalists: Graciela López from Cuartoscuro, Sashenka Gutiérrez from the EFE agency and Leslie Pérez from El Heraldo. At this time we were at the Hidalgo metro station, and heading off to cover the women's march in Mexico City. When we were leaving the subway, a group of police officers surrounded us and detained Leslie, grabbing her hair. I immediately came back and tried to help her. In response, the police officers pulled my hair, kicked me, hit me, took off my mask and my glasses. Graciela saw that and attempted to speak with the officers, trying to explain the situation. She was then also attacked. They threw us on the ground.  We managed to get up and wanted to leave. However, the police fired tear gas which hit Sahenka and Leslie. They were both beaten and arrested. One of them was handcuffed and some of our photographic equipment was seized. Luckily we were able to get it back later on. “


Celebrations for International Women's Day turned volatile in Mexico city. According to a feminist collective, Las Brujas del Mar, women journalists and demonstrators were assaulted by the police, tear-gassed, and targeted with firecrackers. El Sol de México shared the video and reported, “Police cars revolving light #AlMomento | They arrest and attack four photographers in Metro Hidalgo: Graciela López (@A_Cuartoscuro), Sashenka Gutierrez, (@EFEnews), Gabriela Esquivel (@daily24hour) and Leslie Pérez (@heraldodemexico)”

Andalalucha, a multimedia journalist in Mexico, shared a video on Twitter of police arresting a fellow journalist. She said, “Mexico City police illegally detained four female photojournalists at the start of today’s #International Women's Day March inside a subway station. In this video the badass photojourno @SashenkaMiss demands that the police let her colleague @hoysololeslie go. They respond w handcuffs.”

EFE photographer Sashenka Gutierrez described the moments of detention on her Twitter account, “Prior to the coverage of the march by #8M, three colleagues and I were attacked by the police @SSC_CDMX inside the Metro. From the beginning we identified ourselves; however, they beat us, threw us, handcuffed us and held us.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns police brutality and asks the Mexican law enforcement authorities to investigate the wrongful detentions. We demand the police officers who attacked and arrested the journalists be held accountable for their actions. We recognize the efforts and dedication of these women journalists and offer them our full support.