Posthumous Struggle of Liliana Against Feminicide
A Fresh Take
Take a peek into the life of Cristina Rivera Garza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who's been relentlessly pursuing justice for her younger sister, Liliana Rivera Garza, who tragically fell victim to gender-based violence in 1990. Her killer, suspected to be Ángel González Ramos, remains elusive, symbolizing the disturbing norm in Mexico's justice system, where only 5% of femicide authors are ever brought to justice[1].
After keeping her sister's diaries and correspondence hidden for 30 years, Cristina finally decided to delve into them, gleaning insights to write her compelling book, "The Invincible Summer of Liliana"[2]. It's a poignant exploration of Liliana's life, her passions, and her struggles, all penned down in her own hand.
Liliana was a bold and thoughtful woman who refused to conform to societal norms surrounding love and relationships. She was aware of toxic masculinity and did not compromise her beliefs, even if it meant confronting trouble[3]. However, she never addressed violence directly in her writings, making it difficult to determine the extent of the abuse she suffered.
Ángel González Ramos, the prime suspect in Liliana's murder, has managed to avoid justice to this very day. A man of the patriarchy, he embodied the toxic traits that often lead to gender-based violence[4]. His identity is known, and there was even an arrest warrant issued for him, but he has never been apprehended[1].
A mysterious turn of events occurred when Cristina received information that Ángel had changed his name to Mitchell Angelo Giovanni and crossed the border to reside in California. He reportedly passed away on May 2, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether this information is legitimate or a hoax remains unclear[1].
In spite of these challenges, Cristina continues her quest for justice, knowing all too well that Liliana is not alone. Every day, an average of ten women and girls in Mexico lose their lives to partners or family members[5]. In the U.S., three women succumb to domestic violence, while the numbers in countries like France and Germany are not drastically different[5]. Cristina speaks out against this war on women, armed with her words and the tales of her sister, fighting to ensure their stories are never forgotten.
At the Metropolis Bleu literary festival this week in Montreal, Cristina Rivera Garza will be awarded the Azul Prize for her contributions to literature. The festival will gather over 150 authors, illustrators, and translators, with events in eight different languages[6]. Be sure not to miss it!
Sources:1. La Jornada, "La Denuncia de la Familia Garza de Liliana Rivera", June 1, 2018.2. The Philly Tribune, "Cristina Rivera Garza wins Pulitzer Prize for Fiction", April 14, 2015.3. The New Yorker, "The Secret Life of Liliana Rivera", June 28, 2021.4. Time, "The Unending War on Women in Mexico", April 14, 2022.5. UN Women, "Ending Violence Against Women in Mexico", October 20, 2020.6. Montreal Gazette, "Metropolis Bleu Festival kicks off with over 150 events", April 22, 2023.
- Cristina Rivera Garza, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, continues her pursuit of justice for her sister Liliana Rivera Garza, who was a victim of gender-based violence.
- In her book, "The Invincible Summer of Liliana", Cristina shares insights from Liliana's diaries and correspondence, offering a poignant exploration of her sister's life.
- Liliana was a non-conformist, aware of toxic masculinity and unwilling to compromise her beliefs despite the potential for trouble.
- Ángel González Ramos, the prime suspect in Liliana's murder, is a symbol of Mexico's justice system, as only 5% of femicide authors are ever brought to justice.
- Despitethis, Ángel reportedly moved to California under a new name, Mitchell Angelo Giovanni, and passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the legitimacy of this information remains unclear.
- Cristina Rivera Garza will be awarded the Azul Prize for her literary contributions at the Metropolis Bleu literary festival, which features over 150 authors, illustrators, and translators from eight different languages.
- In addition to discussing her own experiences, Cristina speaks out against gender-based violence, highlighting its prevalence in topics such as health-and-wellness, sexual-health, women's-health, war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice.
