### Baja California Congress Approves Judicial Reform Amid Protests
On September 11, 2024, the Baja California Congress approved a controversial reform affecting the Judicial Branch, leading to violent clashes with Federal Judicial workers and state security forces. Federal Judicial Workers (PJF) took to the streets to protest against the proposed reform, expressing fears that it would jeopardize their jobs and undermine judicial independence.
Despite the chaos, legislators convened via Zoom, citing disruptions caused by the protests as the reason for their decision. The reform passed with 20 votes in favor and 5 against, with opposition coming from the PAN, PRI, and Movimiento Ciudadano factions.
“The rule of law is dying with this,” stated Congresswoman Daylin García Ruvalcaba. Echoing this sentiment, Congressman Diego Echevarría Ibarra condemned the reform, labeling it as populism and warning that it centralizes power and undermines checks and balances.
By around 1 PM, protesters managed to break the glass doors of the legislative building and forced their way inside, chanting slogans like “The judicial power will not fall.” Clashes between the protesters and state security forces ensued, resulting in injuries and one arrest. Among the injured was Gilberto Camacho, who was critically wounded and transported to Mexicali General Hospital under police guard.
Maribelda Tafolla, a representative of the PJF workers, called for broader public support against the reform, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence that took over a century to establish. She also warned that what happened was just the beginning of a larger movement to defend the republic.
Meanwhile, Livier Cellyna Lamarque, a leader of the protest, argued that the PJF is not at fault and that the reform is unjust. She held the legislators accountable for any harm that might come to the workers.
Protesters continued to voice their anger in the darkened session hall, guarded by more than 40 security agents, chanting phrases like “Without the Judicial Power, who will protect you?” and accusing the legislators of fostering a dictatorship.
Despite the heavy resistance, the reform found support in various states. Earlier this week, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Quintana Roo also approved similar judicial reforms, further intensifying the debate on judicial independence across Mexico.
### Additional News on Judicial Reform Protests
#### Protests Escalate Nationwide Against Judicial Reforms
The wave of judicial reforms being passed across various Mexican states has sparked nationwide protests. In Tabasco, the home state of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, demonstrators gathered outside the Congress to express their outrage. Similarly, the Congress of Veracruz swiftly convened an urgent session to approve the reform amidst a backdrop of public dissent.
In Mexicali, the commercial gate was blocked following the approval of the reform, intensifying the social unrest. Workers of the Federal Judicial Branch in Mexicali have stated they will continue their partial work stoppage indefinitely in protest against the reform.
Jaime Bonilla, the former governor of Baja California, appeared before the FGE Mexicali regarding a separate issue involving a contract with Next Energy, but also weighed in on the judicial reform, suggesting more public dialogue was needed.
The unrest isn’t confined to legislative halls; a tragic incident in Rosarito, where a former police officer was killed, has added to the atmosphere of instability. This, coupled with the disturbing discovery of human remains outside a local bar, paints a troubling picture of the current social climate.
The broader implications of these reforms and the associated protests highlight the heightened tensions within the judiciary and the public’s growing distrust of legislative maneuvers. As these issues unfold, the nation watches closely to see if a balance can be struck between reform and maintaining judicial independence.