Teachers say ‘enough’ to threats from gangs in Mexico
Teachers in Mexico who risk their lives if they do not hand over half of their pay are standing up for their rights.
With extortion a booming industry amongst gangs in Mexico, teachers have been faced with increased threats and blackmail for the past month but now they are saying "enough", reports the New York Times.
Thousands of teachers marched in the streets of Acapulco in protest to urge other education systems to stand up to the gangs.
Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst at Lantia Consultores, a Mexico City consulting firm, said: "Extortion is the best business after international drug trafficking.
"If you are sufficiently violent you can generate regular income."
Cases of extortion have almost tripled since 2004 but the rise in threats to schools in the past month has caused many schools to shut their doors to protect the students and teachers.
Veracruz's state assembly recently banned the use of Twitter after on-the-ground coverage of mass killings was broadcast using the site, but many scholars insist that social media is a vital part of exposing what is really going on in the country.
