More than 100 people were injured and 20 were detained during the massive protest on Saturday Mexico City against the Mexican President solving violent crimes.
Thousands marched in the capital’s historic main public square, the Zócalo, in a demonstration that drew support from young Mexicans connected to the global wave of Generation Z protests, as well as supporters of the homegrown “Sombrero Movement.” The movement emerged after the recent assassination of a mayor known for his campaign against organized crime.
Protesters of all ages took part in the rally across from the National Palace, where President Claudia Sheinbaum lives and works.
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According to the news agency AFPSeveral agitators, some wearing balaclavas, tore down metal barriers protecting the palace and threw cobblestones at riot police, who responded with tear gas.
Pablo Vázquez, Mexico City’s security chief, reported that 20 protesters and 100 police officers were injured, and 40 officers were hospitalized for cuts and bruises.
“For many hours, this mobilization took place and developed peacefully until a group of hooded individuals began to commit acts of violence,” Vazquez told reporters.
The police detained 20 people for theft and bodily harm, he confirmed.
The authorities also launched an investigation into the attack on a journalist from Day newspaper, which claimed that the police were responsible for the incident.
“Corrupt Narco-Government”
Sheinbaumwho has been in power since October 2024, has maintained an approval rating above 70 percent during her first year in office, but has faced growing criticism of her security policies after several high-profile murders.
“This is one of the most corrupt governments we’ve ever had,” said student Valentina Ramirez AFP. “It’s a corrupt narco-government that wants to defend the corrupt and the cartels instead of the people.”
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During the protest, several protesters wore sombreros similar in style to the hat made famous by Carlos Manzo, a mayor in the western state of Michoacán who was assassinated on November 1. Manzo was known for his crusade against drug smuggling gangs in his hometown of Uruapan. However, the widow of the murdered mayor has distanced herself from her husband’s movement since Saturday’s demonstration.
Protesters displayed banners with messages such as “We are all Carlos Manzo” along with the iconic pirate flag from the Japanese manga. One piece. This flag has become a widely recognized symbol of youth protest around the world, from Madagascar and the Philippines to Peru.
The protest followed the shooting of Bernard Bravo, a leading lime producer in the same region, in late October.
Earlier in the week, Sheinbaum questioned the motivation behind the demonstration, saying at her regular morning press conference that the protest was “inorganic” and “paid for”.
