"I'm not afraid, I walk with God," says PJ worker about attempts to break the strike

MEXICO CITY (apro) - Salvador Mejía is an actuary who began his career in 1998 in the Mexico City Judiciary. That means he's been working in the public sector for 27 years. He speaks, holding a Styrofoam cup of black coffee, while confessing that his family has told him they're afraid of his involvement in the work stoppage.

“I’m not afraid, I walk with God,” he emphasizes, taking a sip from his glass.

During the strike, an alleged riot group attempted to break through the blockade, attacking three women, according to Mejía's testimony. Proceso documented this attack on June 11. This story has caused fear in his family due to his involvement.

The man revealed that his movement has received threats and attempts at coercion, but for security reasons, he cannot comment on this or on the alleged perpetrators he has already identified.

He spends the night in a tent carefully placed between the steps of the Juan N. Álvarez building, named after the liberal leader from the state of Guerrero. This building is located in the Judicial City, in the Doctores neighborhood of Mexico City.

In a corner of the courthouse, they collect donations from their fellow fighters: napkins, coffee, sugar, cookies, and other supplies.

It's drizzling outside, with small drops splashing on the fluorescent signs bearing the slogans: "Out with the War," "Your work isn't worth 5%," "A decent raise, comrade," "Don't be dragged down."

She sits on a folding bench, directly opposite a woman with dyed red hair. Her name is Erika Contreras, an administrative assistant at a civil court in Mexico City. She has worked there since 1995.

"It's the chronicle of a death foretold, that of the judiciary," he says.

In front of this reporter, Erika apologized to citizens and dissatisfied litigants, and also complained about the extinction of courts, a result of the reform to the Judicial Branch, approved in September 2024.

"There was no logistics in that reform, and here are the consequences."

She said she will soon leave, as her colleagues do not want the women to guard the protest camp after the incident with the alleged riot group.

Previously, protesters only hung banners during working hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., also blocking access to the courthouse. Now, they fear that President Rafael Guerra Álvarez could force the courts to reopen.

The workers' strike began on May 28, and in subsequent weeks, experts from the Institute of Forensic Services and Forensic Sciences and litigants from the Public Defender's Office joined the strike, all with complaints against their superiors for workplace harassment and insufficient pay, in addition to failure to provide employment benefits.

"Do you think you can live on 6,000 pesos?" Mejía asks, amid complaints from his colleagues. They all smile as they sip coffee and soda, taking shelter from the rain under the extended roof of the courthouse.