Protests Erupt in Mexico City Against Crime and Corruption

On Saturday, thousands took to the streets of Mexico City for a protest organized by Generation Z, aimed at addressing crime and corruption. The event escalated into violent confrontations with police outside the National Palace.

During the clashes, young demonstrators threw rocks, fireworks, and even seized police shields, as reported by the Associated Press. The movement drew supporters from various ages, including older opposition figures who joined the youth-led effort.

Pablo Vázquez, the Security Secretary of Mexico City, stated that around 120 individuals were injured, including 100 police officers. Authorities made roughly 20 arrests and charged another 20 with administrative violations.

Andres Massa, a 29-year-old business consultant, waved a pirate skull flag, a popular emblem for Gen Z protests. “We need more security,” he expressed. Meanwhile, Arizbeth Garcia, a 43-year-old doctor advocating for healthcare funding, mentioned the pervasive fear among doctors that they could be targeted without consequences.

Protests have intensified following the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, earlier this month. Hooded protesters breached the barriers around President Claudia Sheinbaum’s National Palace, chanting slogans like “Morena, get out” and insisting that “the government killed him.”

Sheinbaum has accused right-wing parties of infiltrating the movement and using social media bots to amplify participation. While some Gen Z influencers stepped back from supporting the protests, notable figures like former President Vicente Fox and billionaire Ricardo Salinas Priego endorsed the demonstrations.

Manzo was gunned down during a Day of the Dead event after openly criticizing Sheinbaum’s policies regarding cartels. In a statement to local media, he expressed a desire not to be “just another mayor on a list of people who have been executed.”