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"... a new group has emerged entirely made up of women, who carry assault rifles and post roadblocks to fend off what they say is a bloody incursion into the state of Michoacán by the violent Jalisco cartel."
Great photos from AP https://apnews.com/article/mexico-11bf21a9a3cce149fb4b8bbc56366923
Great photos from AP https://apnews.com/article/mexico-11bf21a9a3cce149fb4b8bbc56366923
More "movable barricades" 
I'd like to follow up on this and add some information that sticks out from the article. Let's first talk about location because it's crucial.
The red marker is El Terrero, the town the article is written about. You can see it is above Aguililla, the birthplace of El Mencho.
The red marker is El Terrero, the town the article is written about. You can see it is above Aguililla, the birthplace of El Mencho.
To the right along the Jalisco border is Tepalcatepec, the stronghold of El Abuelo, former Valencia Cartel OG, where the Viagras operate out of these days it's presumed.
Note that the road through Tepalcatepec is the only road leading to Colima. That's important.
Note that the road through Tepalcatepec is the only road leading to Colima. That's important.
Above that you have Los Reyes, where some of the footage in the past I've shared was from. Where the road starts connecting to Los Reyes, at the three-way, is Buenavista Tomatlán.
To the right is Apatzingán.
To the right is Apatzingán.
At the bottom you have Lázaro Cárdenas. The port Knights Templars exploited for years and made millions upon millions of dollars. That port exports a *massive* amount of iron to China. It's also vital to USA.
It should also be noted that these areas have historically been inhabited by the Purépecha indigenous people.
That being so, they have struggled against Govt for rights, representation, and autonomy. The failure of Govt to provide is a reason why the self-defense arose.
That being so, they have struggled against Govt for rights, representation, and autonomy. The failure of Govt to provide is a reason why the self-defense arose.
From 'Self-Defense in Mexico'
"Before the uprising of armed civilians in Tierra Caliente, community guard systems had already proliferated on the Purépecha Meseta and the coast region of Michoacán. Indigenous communities were the first to confront organized crime, and they ..."
"Before the uprising of armed civilians in Tierra Caliente, community guard systems had already proliferated on the Purépecha Meseta and the coast region of Michoacán. Indigenous communities were the first to confront organized crime, and they ..."
"... so in general as part of a wider resistance to the dispossession of their natural resources."
This happened in Cherán, located above the areas we're talking about. This all happened in and around 2011, when that community rose up.
This happened in Cherán, located above the areas we're talking about. This all happened in and around 2011, when that community rose up.
From 'Self-Defense in Mexico'
The autodefensas leader Dr. Mireles recognized that Cherán's experience influenced Tepalcatepec and Buenavista Tomatlán uprising."
The autodefensas leader Dr. Mireles recognized that Cherán's experience influenced Tepalcatepec and Buenavista Tomatlán uprising."
Fast forward to February 2013 in La Rauna, Hipólito Mora mentioned in AP article, along with others and El Abuelo, organized.
Recounted in 'Self-Defense in Mexico' by Mora
"Everything went well. 'La Ruana has just risen up in arms and they want us to do so as well,' I told ..."
Recounted in 'Self-Defense in Mexico' by Mora
"Everything went well. 'La Ruana has just risen up in arms and they want us to do so as well,' I told ..."
"... the ranchers. 'Are you ready?' So first they rose up in La Ruana, then in Tepalcatepec, then in the municipality seat of Buenavista Tomatlán. Meetings were held in plazas and war was proclaimed against the Knights Templar."
The section ends with "The uprising was successful. It was consolidated in two municipalities and spread to others. For the next few months, a complicated war unfolded between autodefensas and Templars, which the military, various police forces, and state and federal ..."
"... governments played vacillating and contradictory roles."
"The autodefensas leadership that emerged from the Tierra Caliente uprising ..."
"The autodefensas leadership that emerged from the Tierra Caliente uprising ..."
Now, with a little background out the way, I'll mention what sticks out to me about the AP article.
“They have disappeared a lot of people, a lot, and young girls, too,”
Mireles says in book one reason for rising up to him was Templars were raping and impregnating young girls.
“They have disappeared a lot of people, a lot, and young girls, too,”
Mireles says in book one reason for rising up to him was Templars were raping and impregnating young girls.
What Mora says in the AP article is laughable and feels highly motivated by his attempt at a run for governor. He's obviously trying to appease the state.
Obvious in the fact that Silvano Aureoles, current governor, doubles down on that rhetoric.
Obvious in the fact that Silvano Aureoles, current governor, doubles down on that rhetoric.
Mora then cools off and says basically that conditions of insecurity remain the same as they did in 2013. Essentially saying that the current uprising is justified and that it is for the same reasons *he* arose up in 2013.
And this is what needs to be remembered throughout all of this. Criminal activities and associations aside, there is a genuine reason for these movements.
The state has failed to provide security. They have no choice but to rise up or they will be wiped out by CJNG encroachment.
The state has failed to provide security. They have no choice but to rise up or they will be wiped out by CJNG encroachment.
"The vigilantes bitterly deny allegations they’re part of a criminal gang, though they clearly see the Jalisco cartel as their foe. **They say they would be more than happy for police and soldiers to come in and do their jobs.**"
With this, I'd like to HIGHLY recommend "Self-Defense in Mexico" by @lhan55. I'm certain some of the information appears for the first time in English. I've spent the last two weeks with it & enjoyed every moment. I'm going to read it again so it sticks. The last chapter is A++
Read this book 
