A significant demonstration against insecurity and governmental corruption escalated into violence in Mexico City over the weekend as protestors clashed with riot police near the National Palace. Thousands of demonstrators marched from the Angel of Independence monument through various streets until they reached the Zocalo, the main square where President Claudia Sheinbaum’s residence and office are situated.
Tensions soared as masked protestors dismantled metal barriers protecting the palace, leading to the deployment of tear gas and smoke bombs by riot police. Some protestors pushed and kicked the fences, while others threw stones at the officers. The protest, primarily organized by Generation Z youth groups, highlighted citizens’ concerns over specific cases of violence, such as the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. Participants, waving Mexican flags, expressed frustration regarding the deteriorating security situation and governmental corruption.
“Andres Massa, a 29-year-old business consultant carrying the pirate skull flag emblematic of Gen Z protests, emphasized the need for enhanced security,” stated during the protest. Gen Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, has been at the forefront of protests worldwide against inequality, democratic regression, and corruption.
In Nepal, the largest Gen Z protests in September resulted in the prime minister’s resignation following a social media ban. In Mexico, many young people are disillusioned with systemic issues like corruption and the lack of accountability for violent crimes. Despite recent high-profile murders, including the assassination of Mayor Manzo, President Sheinbaum maintains high approval ratings.
In the days before the protest, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of attempting to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and using social media bots to boost attendance. Some Gen Z social media influencers withdrew their support for the protest, while older figures like former president Vicente Fox and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego voiced their backing. The demonstration drew participants from various age groups, with supporters of Mayor Manzo sporting straw hats symbolizing his political movement.