A new mayor was sworn in Thursday in a city in southern Mexico where his predecessor was killed and beheaded less than a week after taking office.
The new mayor, Gustavo Alarcón, a doctor, had been elected as an alternate on the same ticket as deceased Mayor Alejandro Arcos in the June election.
Arcos took office on Oct. 1 in the violence-wracked city of Chilpancingo, the capital of the southern state of Guerrero. But his beheaded body was found in a pickup truck Sunday; his head had been placed on the vehicle’s roof. Two rival drug gangs are fighting to control the city.
I’m not entirely sure but I think it’s a standard salute they give when they pledge allegiance to their flag. It’s reminiscent of Bellamy salute that was done in the states whose usage fell out of favor presumably for historical reasons.
Ah okay, it does look like it’s a common salute in Mexico. Still weird to me, but thanks for the links!