Wednesday, June 27th was the last official day of the mayoral campaign in Xilitla. The same night, PAN supporters began organizing to prevent PRI from giving out food, money and building resources to residents. These resources are supposedly being distributed to sway votes before elections this Sunday July 1st. People across the county are setting up road blocks and searching vehicles to prevent the distribution of these resources. Mexican military and police are patrolling areas to prevent violence. Many residents are carrying guns and other weapons like bats and machetes for protection during confrontations between the opposing groups. Individuals giving out resources (from PRI) are being referred to as "mapaches," or racoons, because they work throughout the night. One week ago, a PAN supporter's son was kidnapped, but managed to escape in a nearby town. The reason and kidnapper are unknown, but this has posed a further threat to anyone participating in the campaign. Myself and others close to the Moran family are not allowed to leave the house in the final days before elections because of the dangers involved.
Residents in search of "mapache" vehicles (from PRI) containing despensas and other resources.
Most residents in search of "mapaches" wear cloth over their faces to conceal their identity during raids.
A group waiting for "mapaches" to pass through an intersection outside Xilitla.
PAN supporters are given hats with the candidate's name during a march to the plaza.
Spectators watch the final speech given by Moran from a church
window overlooking the plaza in Xilitla.
After the final speech in Xilitla's plaza, the crowd
followed Moran for one final march around the town. Hundreds
of residents from across the county came to support
Moran in Xilitla for the last day of the campaign.
