Remembering Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza

When footage of Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza’s last moments were published online, it sent shockwaves across the internet. Her death — at the hands of Mexican police, one who knelt on her neck — drew comparisons to George Floyd and criticisms of police brutality. It also served as a reminder of the precarious state of Central Americans living in Mexico. As many call for the officers to face punishment for their actions, it’s also important that we don’t forget who she was as a person.

Victoria was a 36-year-old mother of two girls. She was born in Sonsonate, El Salvador but left her home country in search of better opportunities.

“As a single mother, she couldn’t find a decent job, so that’s why she left, for a better future for her daughters, to help them get ahead,” Victoria’s mother, Rosibel Emérita Arriaza, told Elsalvador.com.

She initially intended to make her way to the United States, but eventually changed plans and stayed in Mexico, where she was granted a humanitarian visa. She found work in Tulum.

There is, unfortunately, not a lot of information about Victoria online. But from the little we know, it’s clear she was determined and brave. She wasn’t deterred when her plans didn’t pan out; instead, she started her life over in another country. She was a full person, with hopes and dreams, which the Mexican police cut short.