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Catholic priest and Indigenous activist Pérez killed by 2 gunmen in southern Mexico

TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — He served the Tzotzil Indigenous community for two decades and was known as a negotiator in conflicts in a mountainous region of Chiapas where crime, violence and land disputes are rife.
Catholic priest and Indigenous activist Pérez killed by 2 gunmen in southern Mexico
Associated Press

TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP) — Catholic priest Marcelo Pérez, an activist for Indigenous peoples and farm laborers in southern Mexico, was killed on Sunday.

The prosecutors’ office in the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, in the state of Chiapas, said the religious leader was shot dead by two gunmen when he was in his van.

Pérez was a member of the Tzotzil Indigenous people and had just finished serving a Mass when he was attacked. He served the community for two decades and was known as a negotiator in conflicts in a mountainous region of Chiapas where crime, violence and land disputes are rife.


Pérez also led several marches against violence, which has brought him several death threats.

Chipas Gov. Rutilio Escandón posted on X that he condemned “the cowardly assassination of father Marcelo Pérez.

“We will collaborate with all the authorities so his death doesn’t go unpunished and those guilty face the courts,” Escandón said.

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Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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