René Juárez, Politician
René Juárez, one of Mexico’s few Black politicians has died after contracting COVID-19 in April. He once served as governor of the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, which, along with neighboring Oaxaca and the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, are home to much of Mexico’s relatively small Black population.
He was only the second governor in Mexico of African descent. Juárez, 65, also served as party leader of the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI.
Dulce Maria Sauri the head of the PRI in the lower house of Congress confirmed Juárez’s death Monday, and said it was the result of COVID-19.
Sauri wrote in her social media accounts that legislators mourned the death of Juárez, “who like many Mexicans has lost the battle with COVID-19. We have lost a great ma...