autonomous uprisings

in the mountainous guerrero state of mexico, burgeoning movement of "auto defensa" or autonomous uprisings by campesinos who pushed to the breaking point by criminal gangs operating in their communities decided to take back control of their towns and villages.

donning masks and wielding shotguns and machetes, these self-deputized protectors were willing to confront "head on" the sort of crime and lawlessness that has turned parts of mexico into north american killing fields. there have been 60,000 murders in mexico since 2006 and large tracts of the country are virtually ungovernable.

-ross mcdonnell for TIME