Thousands of Mexicans gathered in Sinaloa on September 13 to protest the ongoing violence linked to the Sinaloa cartel, a powerful drug trafficking group involved in a brutal internal conflict. Demonstrators, many dressed in white and carrying white balloons, marched toward the cathedral in Culiacán, the state capital, organized by the Catholic Church, local businesses, and families of victims. The protest reflected widespread frustration over the rising violence, with participants calling for peace and an end to the killings that have claimed many lives, including innocent civilians. Among the demonstrators was Maricela Pérez, 62, who carried a portrait of her son Miguel, 36, who was shot dead in May while playing volleyball. The bishop of Culiacán, Monsignor Jesús José Herrera, urged the cartel members to stop the violence, emphasizing that no territory or ambition is worth more than human life. The Sinaloa cartel, founded in the late 1980s by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has been embroiled in a violent conflict since September 2024. The war between two factions—reportedly the sons of "El Chapo" and "El Mayo"—has led to at least 3,000 deaths, many of them innocent bystanders. Recently, a one-year-old child was killed by a stray bullet during a clash between rival groups. Protesters also expressed disappointment with the Mexican government, which has deployed 15,000 soldiers under President Claudia Sheinbaum to address the crisis. However, the violence has not subsided, with at least seven people killed in recent days. Some demonstrators shouted anti-Sheinbaum slogans, and a group burned a cardboard effigy of the president. The discontent is partly linked to Rubén Rocha Moya, a former governor of Sinaloa and member of Sheinbaum’s party, Morena, who faces U.S. extradition requests. Rocha Moya denies any wrongdoing, and Sheinbaum claims no conclusive evidence has been presented against him. Recently, she has distanced herself from her party colleague. In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Sinaloa cartel a "foreign terrorist organization" and has warned of potential U.S. intervention if Mexican authorities fail to act against the group. This move has intensified international pressure on Mexico to address the ongoing crisis and bring stability to the region.