A member of the "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) mans a checkpoint, at an entrance to Cherán.

Cherán, a small mountain town in the Mexican state of Michoachan, in middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.

A matador prepares for his rodeo performance in Cherán, with a drink.

A community member and member of the reforestation team, eats lunch outside of the of town of Cherán.

A girl sells flowers in Cherán.

Young member of Cherán's "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard).

Confetti sprinkled in a woman's hair during a celebration in Cherán.

People of town of Cherán, in the Mexican State of Michoacán, celebrate during one of their annual fiestas, October, 2012.

Young men hanging out in the town of Cherán.

Fresh weed in the town of Cherán. The community police try to intercept drugs being brought into Cherán. Personal use is tolerated, but dealing by outsiders is not.

Two young men smoke weed in the town of Cherán.

Band practice in the backyard.

Young cowboys at a rodeo.

Rodeo participants tie down a bull, Cherán.

A member of the "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) shades himself during a forest patrol. Before the recent corrupt logging activities, tall oak trees used to shade many of the roads.

The town of Cher‡n, in the Mexican State of Michoac‡n, October, 2012. Cher‡n, a small mountain town in the middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.

The "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) mans a checkpoint,patrols the town of Cher‡n, in the Mexican State of Michoac‡n, October, 2012. Cher‡n, a small mountain town in the middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.

A member of the "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) patrols the forest outside of Cher‡n, in the Mexican State of Michoac‡n, October, 2012. Cher‡n, a small mountain town in the middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.

Members of the "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) search a young male at a checkpoint at an entrance to the town.

Halloween in Nahuatzen, a town neighboring Cherán.

A police van explodes during a confrontation between police and protesting students, in Cherán.

The town of Cher�n, in the Mexican State of Michoac�an, October, 2012.

Gas station employee, Cherán.

An archival photo of a military couple in the town of Cherán.

Young mother and daughter, Cherán.

A young man stands at a check point in Urapicho, near the the town of Cherán, in the Mexican State of Michoacán, October, 2012. Following the example of Cherán, the citizens of Urapicho organized to protect themselves from the local cartel.

People work in a grave yard before the day of the dead, outside of the town of Cherán.

A community member of town of Cher�n, in the Mexican State of Michoac�n, October, 2012.

Two young boys ride a horse through the town of Cher‡n, in the Mexican State of Michoac‡n, October, 2012. Cher‡n, a small mountain town in the middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.

Member of the "Ronda Comunitaria" (Community Guard) stands on a tree stump, overlooking the forest outside of Cherán.

A young man stands at a check point in Urapicho, near the the town of Cherán, in the Mexican State of Michoacán, October, 2012. Following the example of Cherán, the citizens of Urapicho organized to protect themselves from the local cartel.

A man overlooks the town of Cher‡n, in the Mexican State of Michoac‡n, October, 2012. Cher‡n, a small mountain town in the middle of the Mexican forest, saw its citizens organize in 2011 and overthrew the corrupt local government and police force. The citizens of the pueblo (town or community,) set up their own government system and police force in an attempt to drive organized crime out of their community and forest after years of extortion and violence.