The Jalisco Prosecutor's Office has initiated two investigations for actions that could constitute an apology for the crime against Los Alegres del Barranco, a group of regional Mexican music. One of the investigations was opened due to a 'karaoke' during their performance at the Spring Fair in Cihuatlán, and the other for a concert in Tequila, held with a legal injunction.
In a previous act, the group projected images of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, while performing a song in tribute to the criminal boss at the Telmex Auditorium in Zapopan. Now, Los Alegres del Barranco face a judicial process and are summoned to appear in Court 16 of the Puente Grande prison complex.
Deputy Prosecutor Alfonso Gutiérrez Santillán has stated that the artists must appear at the hearing, warning that arrest warrants could be issued if they do not, even though the crime does not involve preventive detention.
The group's strategy of organizing 'massive karaokes' to allow the audience to sing prohibited songs has been used by other artists to bypass the censorship of narcocorridos. Although during their performance Los Alegres del Barranco did not sing or project images of the characters mentioned in the lyrics of the songs, the attendees did so enthusiastically, according to videos shared on social media.
So far, there is no clear legal criterion that defines the apology for the crime when it is the public, and not the artist, who sings controversial lyrics while the musical chords are being played.