Claudia Sheinbaum officially became the first President in the history of Mexico on Tuesday at noon.
“After at least 503 years, for the first time we women come to lead the destinies of our beautiful nation,” said President Sheinbaum. “And I say we arrived because she did not arrive alone, we all arrived.”
During her first speech as president Sheinbaum expressed thanks and recognition to Mexicans who live in the United States.
“Mexico is wonderful thanks to our countrymen and women, heroes and heroines who live in the United States and who, out of love for their family and country, send their support every month,” said Sheinbaum, who promised that he will ensure that the Mexican consulates treat with dignity to migrants.
For many Mexican women who are leaders or activists in Southern California, the new president represents a new opportunity to receive the support from the Mexican government that Mexicans in the US need.
Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), says that the last six years has been one of the toughest due to human rights violations, attacks and the loss of migrant lives.
“With the new president we want a return to an appreciation of human rights and to feel that people have the right to migrate, especially when their lives are in danger,” Salas explained.
“Let us not forget that here in the United States, many Mexicans experience what many immigrants from other countries are experiencing in Mexico…, lack of protection, lack of recognition of our humanity and our needs…”.
Gloria Cruz, head of public affairs at the San Diego LGBTQ center, says that as a Mexican
It is a great pride to witness this historic moment.
President Sheinbaum has expressed support for the LGBTQ community in the past when she, then mayor of Mexico City, announced that students attending public schools will no longer have to wear gender-specific uniforms.
“I think we are in the best moment since (Sheinbaum) comes with those ideas and it is a time for him to be supported and to have more dialogue about sexual diversity and also the human rights that exist in that range.”
Sara Mijares, initiator of the Mayan World Foundation in Los Angeles, says she’s hoping for a slightly different awareness under the new administration.
“We know that it comes from the line of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but we also hope that she has that initiative typical of her studies and her experience, not so much as a woman but as a professional.”
Mijares describes Sheinbaum as a professional, scientific, community woman, with an egalitarian sense of gender inclusion, indigenous peoples, business, and with a voice of defense for Mexicans.
He added that it is also important to preserve the pre-Hispanic cultures that exist in Mexico because he feels that the government has not done a good job historically.
Estela Chamu has more than 20 years as a promoter, volunteer coordinator and community leader in the San Diego area where she has advocated for education, migration and the health of the people.
Chamu hopes that the Mexican government will continue with the aid that began with President Obrador.
“They are helping the elderly to not be the burden of their children, so let them continue with all this that he left behind.”
Originally from Mexico City, Chamu expressed that the idea of having a female president was never impossible due to the cultural progress she has seen in her life.
Chamu is confident that Americans in November will also decide for their first president Kamala Harris.
“I think there will be a victory for Harris,” said Chamu. If it was possible in Mexico, why not here?
