Nestora Salgado of Renton finally walked free of a Mexican prison this morning, after two and a half years of human rights and legal campaigning on her behalf. Seattle University School of Law's International Human Rights Clinic recently won a U.N. Working on Arbitrary Detention decision that her imprisonment was a illegal.
Salgado, who holds dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship, helped form a security force to protect an indigenous community, a right guaranteed under the Mexican constitution; her group had express authorization from the governor of the state of Guerrero. She landed in jail after the community police force arrested a politician and three people of drug dealing.
Thomas Antkowiak, director of the law clinic, said, "We are thrilled that Nestora will finally be reunited with her family and many supporters, who have all fought so resolutely for her freedom."
