Brett Gundlock: Scenes from Mexico's drug wars
Photographer Brett Gundlock captures moments with Mexican autodefensa groups fighting back against years of drug-fuelled violence. They say the police can't or won't help them, so they're doing it themselves
The Ronda Comunitaria (Community Guard) patrols the town of Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico, October 7, 2012. In April, 2011, after years of extortion by the local cartels, complacency of local government and police, the people of Cheran organized to reclaim their town and their land. The Pueblo (translated as people or community) confronted the cartel, removed the government from office, and created their own police force to guard the city. Two years later over 20 towns in Mexico have followed their lead and taken up arms and established community police (autodefensa) groups.Brett Gundlock
A member of the autodefensa group, Pur un Aquila libre (For one free Aquila), patrols a mountain road on July 18, 2013. The group expelled the local police in the town of Aquila July 24, 2013. On August 5, the Mexican Army (Ejercito) seized the weapons of the autodefensa group, after the group took an Army official into custody. There are currently over 20 towns in Mexico under the control of citizens’ autodefensa groups.Brett Gundlock
A member of an autodefensa group Pur un Aquila libre (For a free Aquila) poses for a photo, July 21, 2013. The group expelled the local police in the town of Aquila July 24, 2013. On August 5, the Mexican Army (Ejercito) seized the weapons of the autodefensa group, after the group took an Army official into custody. There are more than 20 towns in Mexico under the control of citizens autodefensa groups.Brett Gundlock
A member of the Ronda Comunitaria (Community Guard) searches a man at a checkpoint in Cherán, Michoacán, Mexico. October 18, 2012.Brett Gundlock
A member of an autodefensa group Pur un Aquila libre (For one free Aquila) sleeps, July 20, 2013. The group expelled the local police in the town of Aquila July 24, 2013. On August 5, the Mexican Army (Ejercito) seized the weapons of the autodefensa group, after the group took an Army official into custody.Brett Gundlock
Mexican Federal Police, (Polic’a Federal) in Aquila, Michoacan, July 18, 2013. An Autodefensa group, a vigilante group made up of community members, expelled the local police in the town of Aquila July 24, 2013 and took control of the town.Brett Gundlock
A man looks over the town of Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico, October 17, 2012. In April of 2011, after years of extortion by the local cartels and complacency of local government and police, the people of Cheran organized to reclaim their town and their land. The Pueblo (translated as people or community) confronted the cartel, removed the government from office, and created their own police force to guard the city. Two years later, over 20 towns in Mexico have followed their lead by taking up arms to establish community police (autodefensa) groups.Brett Gundlock
Agustin Villanueva, the leader of the autodefensa group Pur un Aquila Libre (For one free Aquila) looks out a window, July 23, 2013. The group Pur un Aquila Libre (For one free Aquila) took control of Aquila, Michoacan, on July 24, 2013 under control of the Mexican Army and Mexican Federal Police. On August 14, 2013 45 members of the group were arrested by the Mexican Army and Mexican Federal Police. There were charged with possessing illegal weapons as well as assaults and theft. Activists and supporters of the group accuse the influence of the cartel in the arrests. It is reported that the day following the arrests the local mine was shutdown and all contracts with local companies suspended.Brett Gundlock
A young mother and her child, in Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico, October 13, 2012. In April, 2011, after years of extortion by the local cartels and complacency of local government and police, the people of Cheran organized to reclaim their town and their land. The Pueblo (translated as people or community) confronted the cartel, removed the government from office, and created their own police force to guard the city.Brett Gundlock
A member of an autodefensa group Pur un Aquila libre (For one free Aquila) poses for a photo, July 8, 2013.Brett Gundlock
A member of an autodefensa group Pur un Aquila libre (For one free Aquila) poses for a photo, July 8, 2013.Brett Gundlock