Red Ribbon Week: A History in Minutes

The Red Ribbon Week has arrived! Remember, Say no to drugs!

Many school districts as well as other communities have started a Red Ribbon Week celebration, enforcing the idea of saying no to drugs. The Red Ribbon Week is celebrated with great pride in my society. What about yours?

Many people have questions or aren’t completely sure as to what the Red Ribbon Week is or how it came into being. Well, Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually, every October 23rd-31st. This was a movement started by people who were stunned by the determined deeds of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. When Enrique was a child, he used to ask his mother, “Mother! Mother! Please give me a gun! I need a gun!” Shocked, his mother had asked, “But why is that?” Enrique replied “Because some day I wanna be a police officer!”. He pursued his dream and remained loyal to it for all his childhood. Then came the day when his dream came to test. It was in high-school, when Enrique’s friends turned in the wrong direction of drugs and sex, filling Enrique up with peer-pressure. This was one of the hardest choices of his life, and he remained faithful to his objective and refused. He tried to get his friends out of that mess too, but was isolated from the group. He grew up, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1972, where he served for two years. He then joined the DEA at their Calexico, California office. In 1977, Camarena moved to their Fresno office, and in 1981 he was assigned to the agency’s Guadarajala, Jalisco office in Mexico. His main goal in life was to fight drugs and stop the spreading of drugs from Mexico into the United States.

He worked as an undercover agent in Mexico, where he destroyed many drug-selling stores and imprisoned drug sellers. He tried his best at not being publicized although his name was well known. While trying to break a drug-seller, his identity was revealed. Enrique had no knowledge of this, and woke up at February 7, 1985 with no the same mundane feeling ans any other day. He had left his gun at his room and crossed the street to enter his car. As he opened his car door, some men waiting inside his car hurled him in, and drove off. He was then tortured, and bludgeoned to death. Although his body was found in March 5, he may have been killed about one month before that: pathologists who examined his body believed the actual date of death was more likely around February 9. After his death, the police made an all out investigation for his death, and finally came up with two suspects: Humberto Álvarez Machaín, the physician who allegedly prolonged Camarena’s life so the torture could continue, and Javier Vásquez Velasco. They were taken into the United States, even though the Mexican Government showed no sign of cooperation, and were tried in United States District Court, Los Angeles. The trial resulted in an acquittal. Vásquez was arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder and sentenced to three life sentences.

Enrique is now alive by his wife Mika and his three sons.

Well, there you have it folks! Now you know the true story behind Red Ribbon Week! Please remember to cherish the memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena and keep in mind the example he set out for us. Most importantly, enjoy the Red Ribbon Week and Say NO to Drugs.