SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS.- With prayers, music and slogans for peace, around 15 thousand people gathered in the main square of San Andrés Larráinzar to commemorate the first death anniversary of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérezrecognized defender of human rights and spiritual leader of indigenous communities in northern Chiapas.
The massive meeting, led by parishioners, civil organizations and priests of the Diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casashad as its central axis the demand for justice and complete clarification of the murder that occurred on October 20, 2024.
They demand to arrest the intellectual author
During the ceremony, attendees recalled that, although the perpetrator of the crime was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the mastermind remains a fugitive.
Given this, the organizers and pilgrims sued the state and federal authorities that the case not be closed and that it be thoroughly investigated to find all those responsible.
In the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupethe place where the pilgrimage began, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in honor of the Tsotsil priest.
The participants marched with songs and prayers to the central plaza, where they reiterated their call to keep alive the legacy of someone who dedicated his life to defending the rights of indigenous peoples.
They remember their fight for indigenous peoples
During the messages, it was highlighted that Father Marcelo was a strong voice against abuse and the dispossession that affect the communities of northern Chiapas.
They point out that his pastoral work transcended the borders of faith, becoming a symbol of resistance against extractive projects which, he denounced, put the life and culture of the native peoples at risk.
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“His death was a blow to everyone, but also a call to continue his fight for justice and dignity,” said one of the attending priests.
A legacy that lives on in the community
Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez he was killed on October 20, 2024shortly after celebrating mass at the Dulce Nombre de Jesús temple, in the Cuxtitali neighborhood, in San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
One year after his death, the tsotsil community reaffirmed his determination to keep his example alive, replicating his message of peace and justice.
“His voice was silencedbut his spirit walks with us,” expressed the parishioners.
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