On June 29, 2017, human rights defender Meztli Omixochitl Sarabia Reyna was murdered inside her organization’s office in Puebla, Mexico. The defender was shot twice during an armed attack on the Unión Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes 28 de Octubre (UPVA) offices.

Meztli Omixochitl Sarabia Reyna was a labor rights defender, member of UPVA and daughter of human rights defender Rubén Sarabia “Simitrio”, leader and co-founder of the same organization. UPVA is an organization based in Puebla that defends labor rights, and particularly the rights of street vendors and, among other things, organizes social protests on these issues. The organization has faced repression since its founding and its members have been subject to constant attacks, death threats, stigmatization and judicial harassment.