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An armed man from a self-defense group poses with his weapon at the entrance of Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven the quasi-religious drug cartel, Knights Templar, from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan, on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
A caravan of self-defense groups makes it way through Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
Flanked by weapons a man from a self-defense group sits inside a barricade at the entrance of Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
Federal police arrive in Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
A caravan of self-defense groups makes it way through Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
An image of the Virgin de Guadalupe decorates the grip of a handgun belonging to a member of a self-defense group, who stands guard at the entrance of Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. The city of 100,000 has been under effective control of the Knights Templar cartel for several years. Federal forces and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working together to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
A federal police officer and a member of a self-defense group, second right, man a checkpoint at the entrance to Apatzingan in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police control security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
Mexican army soldiers drive into Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. The city of 100,000 has been under effective control of the Knights Templar cartel for several years. Federal forces and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working together to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![]()
A resident rides his bike past federal police standing guard in Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police control security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_14]()
A federal police officer reads a newspaper with a front page headline that reads in Spanish, "Without violence," while standing guard at a checkpoint at the entrance to Apatzingan in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police control security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_5]()
A federal police officer stands guard at a checkpoint as a member of a self-defense group, right, questions a driver at the entrance to Apatzingan in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police control security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_191new]()
An armed man from a self-defense group stands with his weapon at the entrance of Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February 2013, to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_6]()
Two members of a self-defense group cheer as they ride in caravan through the streets of Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_7]()
Residents wave at a caravan of self-defense groups parading through the streets of Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_8]()
Hipolito Mora, leader of a self-defense movement, wears a bllet proof vest as he stands at the entrance of Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state, of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a the quasi-religious drug cartel, Knights Templar, from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_18]()
Armed men from a self-defense group stand within a barricade at the entrance Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February 2013, to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_20]()
A caravan of self-defense group makes it way through Apatzingan, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a quasi-religious drug cartel from a series of towns in western Mexico entered a Apatzingan on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen, a leader of the movement said. Federal police controlled security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_new]()
Estanislao Beltran, leader of a self-defense movement, speaks at a checkpoint at the entrance of Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Vigilantes who have driven a the quasi-religious drug cartel, Knights Templar, from a series of towns in western Mexico entered Apatzingan, on Saturday and were working with government forces to clear it of cartel gunmen. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)![mexico_vigilantes_16]()
Federal police stand guard in front of a bank branch in Apatzingan in Michoacan state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Federal police control security in the city and both armed and unarmed member of the "self-defense" movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar drug cartel hideouts. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)Vigilante Groups Take Up Arms Against Drug Cartels In Western Mexico
Vigilante groups in Mexico have given the federal government a very public headache, since they're violent yet ultimately have the same goal in mind: to take away power from the cartels.
Move Forward
- Vigilante Groups Take Up Arms Against Drug Cartels In Western Mexico
