Mexican drug cartels learn fine art of protesting

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Mexicans in the capital take advantage of sunny spring weather to mount protests and demonstrations before the summer rains begin in earnest later this month.

Displaced farmers, underpaid workers and angry university students all air grievances with various marches, naked vigils, street blockades and hand-painted overpass banners. Teachers this week, for example, took over toll booths and some city streets to protest changes in the government’s pension system. (They and other government workers will have to contribute more and work longer to be eligible.)

Today, drug gangs apparently joined the free speech movement.

“Attention to all Zetas, get out of Guadalajara,” said one banner hanging from a transit bridge. “I’m tired of throwing you into sulphuric acid.”

The Zetas are the nickname for a band of army deserters who’ve hired themselves to the so-called Gulf Cartel. Their rivals are affiliated with a Pacific Coast-based cartel and the two sides are locked in a grisly east-west death match over smuggling routes to meet U.S. demand for cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine.

Farther south, across from a foot bridge in front of TV Azteca offices, hung this banner: “Welcome Zetas. Now we’re going after you and your families.”

Police later found two gift bags, each containing a hand grenade, at separate subway stations. The bags were labeled ‘Warning Explosives’ and one had a message saying ‘Zetas get out of Guadalajara.’

Posted by Carlos Martinez and Sam Enriquez in Mexico City