### Vigil in Mexicali: “We Do Not Want to Let It Pass, We Want to Raise Our Voice Peacefully” – CCE
Business chambers in Mexicali held a vigil to honor the memory of Minerva Pérez Castro, former president of the National Chamber of the Fishing and Aquaculture Industry (CANAINPESCA) in Ensenada, and Paola Bañuelos Flores, a young student. Both were tragically murdered last week.
During the vigil, business leaders and activists called on the government of Baja California to intensify security efforts to prevent such violent acts. Minerva Pérez was killed by an armed group in Ensenada on July 8. On the same day in Mexicali, Paola Bañuelos went missing and was found dead on July 11.
In response to these events, the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) held a vigil at the monument to Benito Juárez in Mexicali on the afternoon of July 17, commemorating Minerva and Paola.
Luis Elizondo Lomelí, the president of CCE in Mexicali, demanded tangible results in security measures from the state government led by Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda. He also pledged that business chambers would collaborate with the government to prevent such violent incidents.
“We do not want to let this pass; we want to raise our voice peacefully to ensure that such an event (the murder of Minerva) does not happen again,” he expressed.
Gonzalo Moreno, the founder of the Search and Investigation Cell for Forced Disappearance in Baja California, also attended the vigil. He praised the event but emphasized the dual responsibility of the business sector in ensuring security, given their economic and social influence.
“Most of those present here have direct access to the governor, deputies, and have contracts with the government. They have the means to exert pressure far beyond a vigil. The exercise is good, but leave that to the grassroots,” he stated.
The vigil began around 7:00 PM and gathered more than 100 participants.
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