A massive demonstration against insecurity and government corruption in Mexico City turned violent over the weekend as protesters clashed with riot police near the National Palace. Thousands of demonstrators marched from the Angel of Independence monument to the Zocalo, the main square where President Claudia Sheinbaum’s residence and office are situated. Tensions escalated when masked protesters dismantled metal barriers protecting the palace, leading to the deployment of tear gas and smoke bombs by riot police. Some demonstrators pushed and kicked fences while others threw stones at officers.
The protest, mainly organized by Generation Z youth groups, attracted citizens protesting specific acts of violence, including the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. Participants, waving Mexican flags, expressed frustration over worsening security conditions and government corruption. “We demand enhanced security,” stated Andres Massa, a 29-year-old business consultant who carried the pirate skull flag emblematic of Gen Z protests.
In various countries this year, members of the Generation Z demographic have orchestrated protests against inequality, democratic regression, and corruption. The most significant Gen Z protests occurred in Nepal in September after a social media ban, resulting in the prime minister’s resignation. In Mexico, many young people cite systemic issues such as corruption and impunity for violent crimes as reasons for their frustrations.
Despite recent high-profile murders, including the assassination of Mayor Manzo, Sheinbaum retains high approval ratings. In the lead-up to the protest, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of attempting to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and utilizing social media bots to boost attendance.
Some Gen Z social media influencers withdrew their support for Saturday’s protests, while older figures like former president Vicente Fox and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego expressed solidarity with the demonstrators. The protest saw attendees from various age groups, with supporters of Mayor Manzo donning straw hats symbolizing his political movement.
