If San Pedro Sula Is Murder Capital of the World, Who Made It That Way?

One of San Pedro Sula's poorest barrios.  Photo: David Bacon

[Many people here continue to say they sympathize with Central American asylum seekers but that horrific conditions in their countries aren’t a U.S. problem. Here veteran journalist David Bacon focuses on just one city, San Pedro Sula, and the way U.S. policies have in fact made it "a vast, American-owned sweatshop."—TPOI editor]

By David Bacon, The American Prospect

June 13, 2019

A 30-second search on the internet produces at least two dozen stories from U.S. newspapers and other media about San Pedro Sula in Honduras. "Honduran City is World Murder Capital," announces Fox News. Business Insider calls it "the most violent city on earth."  In an attempt to explain the motivation for migrant caravans traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border, NPR labels it "one of the most violent cities in the world."

This wave of media attention has been going on for at least half a decade, as tens of thousands of Hondurans arrive at the border seeking refuge. President Trump's rhetoric portraying the caravans as a threat has focused even more attention on this Honduran city.[…]

Read the full article:

https://prospect.org/article/if-san-pedro-sula-murder-capital-world-who-made-it-way

https://davidbaconrealitycheck.blogspot.com/2019/06/if-san-pedro-sula-is-murder-capital-of.html