What began as a protest of a few hundred people escalated to a rally of tens of thousands, as citizens took to the streets to protest drug gang violence and the government crackdown that has led to 34,000 deaths since 2006. The demonstration, which was led by Mexican poet Javier Sicilia, began in the resort city of Cuernavaca and continued 60 miles north to the heart of Mexico City. Shirts reading "enough bloodshed" and signs declaring, "no more bullets" could be seen in the crowd. For Sicilia, the march was personal. His 24-year-old son and six others died in Cuernavaca in a dispute with drug cartel gunmen. Sicilia is urging the government to figure out a better way to end the escalating violence. Authorities recently uncovered mass graves in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas with 183 victims of the cartel; another 168 were unearthed in the state of Durango. Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who launched a military offense in 2006 against the drug cartels, says he will keep up the pressure and will not back off from the fight. Reports say that after cartel fighters attacked an army convoy outside the town of Monterrey, the government deployed hundreds of soldiers and federal police to northern Mexico. Quotes JAVIER SICILIA, poet: "We are heading to Mexico City to demand that the authorities take a close look at this country, or it is going to go to hell." PROTESTER: "I think the people will react to the march. Slowly, the people will become conscious of what is going on and, in cities all over the country, there will be reactions." FELIPE CALDERON, president of Mexico: "Backing off from the fight is not an option. If we retreat, we are going to allow gangs of criminals to roam the streets of Mexico, attacking people, with no one to stop them." Warm Up Questions 1. Where is Mexico? What is the relationship between Mexico and the United States? 2. What is a drug cartel? What is drug trafficking? 3. Why does drug trafficking often lead to violence? Discussion Questions 1. Why did Mexican citizens take to the streets in protest? 2. What would you do if you lived in Mexico? 3. Why is this rally personal for poet Javier Sicilia? 4. How do you think Mexican President Felipe Calderon is handling the war against the drug cartels? What can be done differently? Additional Resources Video Transcript Drug Violence Wreaks Havoc in Mexico Download this Video