Hipólito Mora Chávez (26 July 1955 – 29 June 2023) was a Mexican farmer and politician. He founded a vigilante self-defense group in his town of La Ruana in response to cartel activity in the region, specifically by the Knights Templar Cartel. People in La Ruana were tired of the cartel's kidnappings and threats and its control of the harvesting and sale of limes grown by local farmers.[1][2] After fighting the cartel for months without any help, his group received help from Mexican troops and drove out the cartel from Michoacán between 2013 and 2014. He was one of the few fighters to remain in La Ruana after the cartel was expelled.[2] He was ambushed and killed on 29 June 2023, alongside three bodyguards, in La Ruana. Unidentified gunman cut off the vehicles of Mora and his bodyguards, opened fire and set Mora's vehicle on fire.[2][3] His son was killed by the cartel in 2014 and he anticipated he would eventually be assassinated as well.[3]
Mora was the gubernatorial nominee for the Solidarity Encounter Party in the 2021 Michoacán elections.
In 2022, Mora said that the situation in Michoacán had become worse than it was in 2013. By that time, the Knights Templar Cartel had been replaced by Carteles Unidos. According to Mora, many vigilante forces were later infiltrated by the cartels, the federal government of Mexico was focused on fighting the Jalisco Cartel and was not doing much to fight homegrown cartels in Michoacán, and gang violence was worse than ever.[2]
References
- ^ Tuckman, Jo (2014-01-17). "Vigilantes take on drug cartels terrorising south-west Mexico". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ a b c d Fabiola Sánchez; Mark Stevenson (2023-06-29). "Anti-gang community defense activist Hipólito Mora slain in Mexico". AP.
- ^ a b Phillips, Tom; Nuño, Analy (2023-06-29). "Hipólito Mora, vigilante crusader against Mexico's drug cartels, killed in ambush". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-29.