TIJUANA.- Thousands of people marched this Saturday through the streets of Tijuana against what they consider to be an imposition of presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto, winner of last week's elections'.
The protest called a "Mega-March", took place simultaneously on different Mexican cities, all of them condemning the alleged buying of votes by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) amongst other irregularities.
The meeting was called through social networks and, even though youth movement #YoSoy132 denied being the organizer, it showed its support by attending as well.
In a display of unity and to communicate a message, thousands of people shared photographs of the marches in their respective cities to the point that the hashtag #megamarcha was a trend topic on Twitter throughout the Saturday.
Tijuana was no exception and, just like last Wednesday, protesters gathered around the Cuauhtémoc monument on the Río quarter to, from there, start a route through the city's downtown where more people with the same ideas joined the marchers.
After covering the main avenues of the border city, the march returned to the Cuauhtémoc traffic circle where they sang the Mexican National Anthem following it with phrases like "if there's an imposition, there will be a revolution" and "Mexico is hurt".
"I am here because I am in favor of my country, I am defending it, I am sick of the lies they have fed us" said student Abimael Pérez Galeana.
The also part-time worker rejected criticism calling the young protesters "people with nothing to do" and invited them to inform themselves to understand the reasons that have pushed them to go out to the streets.
"See the evidence, we are not rebellious kids, we have a cause and we want their support".
Even though most of the attendees were young, a lot of adults also showed their inconformity with Peña Nieto and his party.
With faltering voice Reyna Ávila, a stay at home mom from Tijuana, talked about feeling helpless over the elections since they were unlawful and did not reflect the will of the Mexican people.
"These youngsters are here because they have the energy, but if housewives have the opportunity we have to say it too so there is no more injustice; last Sunday we felt such anger, so much need to cry, is the helplessness of trying to be imposed something against our will" she stated.
As many of the demonstrators the lady showed her dissatisfaction with the fact that Mexican authorities declared Enrique Peña Nieto as the winner with barely the 5% of the votes counted.
Accompanied by his cane, Mr. Alfredo García, 72 years of age, walked the entire route, firstly, to show his repudiation to the political party that is returning to the presidential chair.
"That party is a mafia, they want to oppress the people and that is not fair" said the retired man.
The high temperatures did not stop him from joining the group through the whole route of the city's streets since, he states, is a gesture of solidarity with his country.
"It is a token of affection; I love my country very, very much and I will come back as many times as it needs me".
*This picture circulates on Internet, it shows the march on different cities of the world.
Original Text : Micaela Arroyo and Alexandra Mendoza
Translation: Karen B. Licea
