Activists campaigning against rampant violence and corruption in Mexico’s drug war gathered in Mexico City on Tuesday to demand greater government protection in the wake of a series of targeted attacks. Women’s rights activist Norma Andrade became at least the second activist to be attacked this month after being shot fives times on Friday. At the offices of a human rights group, Andrade’s colleagues said the Mexican government is failing to protect them.

Mario Patrón: “The attacks on defenders (of human rights) and journalists represents the quality of democracy we are living in Mexico. When defenders (of human rights) and journalists have no (safe) conditions or a condition of vulnerability to do their work, then society is going through extreme insecurity.”

Josefina Mena: “We are not saying that it was the government that fired the five shots into Norma Andrade. What we are saying is that the government is not protecting us. Proceedings have commenced in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to make this very clear.”