Progreso, Yucatán — A series of Carnaval low points included a drunken woman removing her own clothes on a DJ stage, a battle of flying beer bottles and several street fights.
Police appeared overwhelmed by 100,000 attendees, said Flora Muñoz Rosado, a restaurant owner and former president of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Marijuana and cocaine use on the Malecón was tolerated by authorities during Tuesday’s “La batalla de las flores” (“The Battle of the Flowers”), an employee of a local business told Diario de Yucatán.
Carnaval, which began Feb. 1 with “La quema del mal humor” (The Burning of the Bad Mood”), but by Tuesday, the mal humor had returned.
Witnesses said the first alcohol-fueled disturbances started around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the top of the Malecón, by the statue of the port’s founder, Juan Miguel Castro.
About six people began fighting, falling on the pavement at least three times. Police were summoned but did not arrive in time. The brawl lasted about 10 minutes.
Around the same time, a DJ stand outside a bar was invaded by an apparently drunken woman who, encouraged by applause, removed all her clothes. Several people climbed onto the platform and covered the woman, but she continued to dance naked until they physically lowered her.
At 8:30 that night, on the same stage, the DJ asked the spectators to throw beers, and they obliged — throwing bottles and cans in a pitched battle.
The containers with beer almost hit passersby. Families with children in their arms had to seek refuge so as not to be struck by projectiles. Nearby businesses closed to protect their customers and property.
The battle lasted about 20 minutes while several people called the Municipal Police, who again arrived after calm was restored on its own. The police chased a group of four people and, according to police reports, one was arrested.
Police reported 29 arrests for impertinent drunkenness, obstructing police work, disrupting public order and public urination.
Carnaval has concluded on the Malecón, but won’t officially end until 4 p.m. Saturday when a review of the “best of the Progreso Carnaval” is scheduled in the José María Morelos auditorium.
Source: Diario de Yucatán
