Support for family of slain Tijuana photographer

Mexico is one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism, with eight journalists murdered here last year alone.

 

Tijuana photographer Margarito Martínez Esquivel knew of the risks, yet bravely kept working, routinely putting himself in harm’s way over the decades to document the city’s deteriorating security situation for his fellow citizens and the rest of the world.

 

He was beloved in the local journalism community and also by the foreign reporters he regularly worked with. He was generous and funny, with a great smile and an easy laugh, and somehow always managed to stay positive even when he was covering the most gruesome of crimes. I am one of the journalists who worked with Margarito, and saw first-hand the risks he took as he rushed to homicide scenes at all hours of the day and night.

 

On Monday, January 17, Margarito was shot to death outside of his home. The crime is unsolved. He is one of more than 70 people who have been killed in Tijuana this month alone.

 

Now Margarito’s family needs our support. His wife, Maria Elena Frausto Granados, and  their16-year-old daughter,  are devastated.

 

Margarito was the family's sole breadwinner. Whatever you can give will go a long way toward helping  them get back on their feet and move forward in these difficult months.  The funds will be used to pay their living expenses and for the education of their daughter.