Thousands of people marched through Mexico City to protest against Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Saturday. The protests left at least 120 people, mostly police officers, injured.
The demonstrations were reportedly organised by members of Generation Z, but were later supported by older members who support the opposition in the country, the Guardian reported. About 17,000 people were reported to have attended the protests.
Many of the protesters held banners and shouted chants saluting Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodriguez, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state, who was assassinated on November 1, at a Day of the Dead event, after leading a movement against drug trafficking.
Protesters tore down fences around the National Palace, prompting a clash with the police who deployed tear gas, media reports said.
Mexico City’s public safety secretary, Pablo Vazquez, said that at least 100 police officers were injured and 40 of them required hospital treatment. 20 civilians were also injured.
Media reports also say that protesters were met with stones and beatings from the police. Elderly people were reportedly gassed with irritants.
Who organised the protests?
The protest was organised by a group called “Generation Z Mexico”. In a manifesto that spread online, the group claimed to be non-partisan and said that they represent Mexican youth who are fed up with violence, corruption, and abuse of power.
The protesters started at the Angel of Independence and marched towards Zocalo and ended their route at the National Palace. They were later joined by farmers and producers who demanded fair prices.
The situation turned violent in Zocalo when hooded figures tore down metal barriers at the national palace, triggering a clash with the police. About 800 police officers were deployed.
Why did they protest?
One of the key demands of the group was justice for the murder of Carlos Manzo. Many protesters wore white clothing and carried hats that were attributed to the mayor. Many targeted the ruling party, chanting “Out Morena,” and others blamed the government’s inaction for Manzo’s death, chanting “Carlos did not die, the government killed him.”
Protesters were also seen carrying One Piece flags, a symbol that has become synonymous with Gen Z demonstrations and movements.
Others protested against the injustice in the system and called for justice in an arson case at the ABC Daycare centre. Shortage of medicines, growing insecurity, and a lack of responses to disappearances were other demands.
Is the protest really a ‘Gen Z protest’?
Many media reports say that the demonstrators belonged to all age groups and did not just consist of Gen Z members. The protesters primarily expressed their discontent with the current government.
Some Gen Z influencers even said on social media that they no longer supported the protests.
However, mainstream figures like the former president Vicente Fox and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, published messages in support of the demonstrations.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has accused right-wing parties of trying to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and using bots on social media to try to increase engagement. Days before the protest took place, she said, “It is a movement promoted from abroad against the government.”
An Al Jazeera reporter in Mexico City said that they had a “hard time believing that this is an organic protest.” “There are not a lot of young people out there on the streets, and we are thinking that may be a reflection or a sign that this is not really coming from the young people. Because we’ve seen protests here in Mexico City against the genocide in Palestine, for example, and we’ve seen young people by the thousands marching in the streets.”
The Mexican president, Claudia Shienbaum, assumed office in October 2024, and she has maintained her approval rating at about 70 per cent for her first year in office. However, she has recently been faced with criticism due to several high-profile murders like Manzo’s.
Responding to the protests, Shienbaum said at an event, “There was a demonstration in Mexico City, where they say young people marched, but in reality, there were very few young people, and they violently removed some barriers and broke windows. We say no to violence.” She then added, “If one does not agree, one must demonstrate peacefully. We should never use violence to bring about change.”
The ‘Gen Z protests’, driven by the demographic born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, are one of several around the world this year. Similar protests against the government took place in Nepal, which eventually led to the resignation of the country’s prime minister.
Who is really behind the ‘Gen Z protests’ in Mexico City? Demonstrations leave 120 injured, 40 arrested
