Background and Family Connections
Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, a prominent lemon producers’ leader from Tepacaltepec, Michoacán, shared a tragic fate with his father, Bernardo Bravo Valencia, known as “El Chiflidos.” Both were vocal advocates for the economic and social rights of their community, located near the Jalisco border. Tragically, both met untimely deaths due to their activism.
Education and Early Career
Born in Apatzingán, Michoacán on May 24, 1985, Bernardo Bravo Manríquez earned a law degree from the Universidad Latina de América (ULA) and pursued postgraduate studies at the Universidad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey (ULDM).
Father’s Activism and Murder
Bernardo Bravo Valencia, known as “El Chiflidos,” was a well-known figure in the region for denouncing extortion by criminal organizations. In 2013, he was murdered in his own Apatzingán-based business after exposing the illegal activities of these groups. His son, Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, continued the fight for justice and fairness in lemon production.
Leadership Roles and Advocacy
Throughout his career, Bernardo Bravo Manríquez held significant positions in various organizations advocating for lemon producers’ rights:
- Dirigente del Comité Nacional Sistema-Producto Limón Mexicano (Conasiprolim) in 2019
- Presidente of the Asociación de Citricultores del Valle de Apatzingán (ACVA)
- Member of the Consejo Agroalimentario del Consejo Económico y Social de Michoacán (CESMICH), defending lemon producers in Apatzingán and Tepalcatepec
- Part of the Confederación Nacional de Propietarios Rurales (CNPR), specifically focusing on Michoacán’s lemon producers
- President of the Asociación de Productores de Limón del Valle de Apatzingán since October 9, 2024, actively denouncing extortion against his members
Final Days and Protests
On October 12, Bernardo Bravo Manríquez led a protest in Morelia’s city center alongside lemon producers, dumping over two tons of lemons to express their frustration with low citrus prices and extortion by intermediaries. He famously declared, “If you want it for free, here it is.”
On October 17, he posted a video on social media calling for lemon producers to attend a demonstration in Apatzingán’s limonero market on October 22. The protest aimed to confront Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla about the ongoing price manipulation and extortion affecting local agriculturalists.
Tragic End
Sadly, Bernardo Bravo Manríquez was kidnapped on October 19 and found dead the following day. His death marks a dark chapter in Michoacán’s fight for fair treatment of lemon producers, echoing the tragic loss of his father.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was Bernardo Bravo Manríquez? He was a well-known lemon producers’ leader from Tepacaltepec, Michoacán, who advocated for the economic and social rights of his community.
- What was his connection to his father? Both Bernardo Bravo Manríquez and his father, Bernardo Bravo Valencia (“El Chiflidos”), were vocal activists against criminal organizations’ extortion in the lemon-producing region. Tragically, both met untimely deaths due to their advocacy.
- What organizations did he lead? He held significant positions in Conasiprolim, ACVA, CESMICH, CNPR, and the Asociación de Productores de Limón del Valle de Apatzingán, all advocating for lemon producers’ rights.
- What led to his death? Bernardo Bravo Manríquez was kidnapped on October 19 and found dead the next day. His death follows in the footsteps of his father, highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice in Michoacán’s lemon-producing communities.
