Mexico villagers, farmers mourn death of butterfly activist

Hundreds of Mexican farmers have thronged the funeral of activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez, an homage that was like a tribute to the monarch butterfly he staunchly defended

Section:Gallery

Fri., Jan. 31, 2020

Mourners watch from outside the overflowing church where the funeral service for community activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez is held in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers attended the funeral Friday, and the homage to the anti-logging activist was like a tribute to the monarch butterfly he so staunchly defended.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press
Mourners carry wreaths as the funeral procession for community activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez makes its way from the church to a hillside cemetery, in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers attended the funeral Friday, and the homage to the anti-logging activist was like a tribute to the monarch butterfly he so staunchly defended.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press
Mourners carry the coffin of community activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez as the funeral procession makes its way from the church to the community cemetery, in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers attended the funeral on Friday, and the homage to the anti-logging activist was like a tribute to the monarch butterfly he so staunchly defended.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press
Rebeca Valencia Gonzalez, 39, poses holding a picture of her husband, environmental activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez, in their home in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Relatives of the anti-logging activist who fought to protect the winter habitat of monarch butterflies don’t know whether he was murdered or died accidentally, but they say they do know one thing for sure: something bad is happening to rights and environmental activists in Mexico, and people are afraid.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press
Rebeca Valencia Gonzalez, center, grieving the death of her husband, Homero Gomez Gonzalez, is comforted by their son Homero Gomez Valencia, right, at the environmental activist’s wake, in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Relatives of the anti-logging activist who fought to protect the winter habitat of monarch butterflies don’t know whether he was murdered or died accidentally, but they say they do know one thing for sure: something bad is happening to rights and environmental activists in Mexico, and people are afraid.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press
Mourners lower the coffin of community activist Homero Gomez Gonzalez into a grave at a hillside cemetery, in Ocampo, Michoacan state, Mexico, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Hundreds of farmers and agricultural workers attended the funeral Friday, and the homage to the anti-logging activist was like a tribute to the monarch butterfly he so staunchly defended.

Rebecca Blackwell Associated Press