Hundreds of trucks were brought to a stop due to over 200 protestors blocking traffic at a commercial vehicle bridge linking Laredo, Texas, and Mexico yesterday.
The protesting began at 9:30 a.m. on May 21, 2018 on the World Trade Bridge in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico.
According to The Washington Post, the blockade drew attention to the disappearance of dozens of people in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas. Protestors complained of a lack of action taken by law enforcement over these issues.
“We are demanding justice,” said Estela Gonzalez, one of the protestors. “Alive or dead or however they may be, we want to know what happened to them.”
Nuevo Laredo’s mayor, Rafael Pedraza Dominguez, attempted to persuade the crowds to leave, promising to consider and discuss their issues.
Despite the mayor’s pleas, people continued to block the bridge on one of its busiest days of traffic.
“What we want is a solution, and if [the missing] have already been harmed, well, what happened to their bodies?” Gonzalez said.
The protests continued late into the evening last night. Immense truck traffic backups are still being reported.
Updated image of the World Trade Bridge. The circulation was reopened, however, the rows to cross cargo are very long #NuevoLaredo #Worldtradebridge #Laredo #Texas pic.twitter.com/fELEzOKU6r
— EP America (@epamerica) May 22, 2018