Recently, a Mexican Senator from the Morena Party faced backlash for organizing a ritualistic killing of a chicken as an offering to a rain god. The incident occurred in the courtyard of Mexico’s federal senate building and was captured on video, sparking condemnation on social media.
During the ritual, Senator Alfredo Gomez Hernandez had indigenous people set up offerings to the rain god Tlaloc. A man held the chicken down while a woman in indigenous attire decapitated it with a knife. The chicken bled out while another man danced with smoking embers and spices, raising questions about how the knife was brought past security.
Following the incident, the Mexico Senate distanced itself from the ritual, stating that it was solely organized by Gomez Hernandez and did not represent the institution. The senator defended the ritual as protected speech under Mexico’s Constitution’s section on Uses and Customs, emphasizing the need for respect.
The controversy surrounding the ritual has sparked debates over religious differences. Additionally, earlier in the week, the Morena Party posted a photo on social media promoting a T-shirt with an image of Saint Death and a message supporting President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The incident has raised concerns and drawn attention to the intersection of traditional beliefs and modern governance. The Morena Senator’s actions have ignited discussions about cultural practices and the boundaries of expression within a public setting.
