Mexico City: At least 120 people, including 100 police officers, were injured, as widespread anti-government protests swept through Mexico City, according to authorities.
Thousands of demonstrators, many of them young activists, marched through the capital to denounce rising violent crime and express anger over President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security policies.
The protests, which also erupted in several other cities, were led by Gen Z youth groups and drew support from citizens outraged by high-profile killings including the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was shot dead on November 1 during a Day of the Dead celebration. Manzo had repeatedly demanded tougher action against cartel violence.
Crowds gathered near the National Palace, where Sheinbaum resides, and dismantled parts of a protective barrier. Police deployed tear gas as clashes intensified. Mexico City security chief Pablo Vázquez said 20 people were arrested on charges such as robbery and assault.
Protesters carried signs reading ‘We are all Carlos Manzo,’ with some wearing cowboy hats in tribute to the slain mayor. Others donned gas masks while confronting police lines with tear gas and shield walls.
President Sheinbaum condemned the violence and alleged that the protests were funded by right-wing opponents, claiming online promotion of the march had been amplified by bots.
Sheinbaum stated that, “We agree with freedom of expression and demonstration, but people should know how this march was organized so that no one is used.”
Despite the unrest, Sheinbaum maintains a 70 percent approval rating in her first year in office and has made advances against fentanyl trafficking, a major concern for the US. However, critics argue she has not done enough to stop Mexico’s spiralling violence, and tensions with neighbouring countries have grown.
Earlier this month, Peru’s Congress declared Sheinbaum a persona non grata, following Peru’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Mexico after it granted asylum to a former Peruvian prime minister involved in a 2022 coup attempt.
The protests mark one of the most significant public challenges to Sheinbaum’s administration amid rising fears over crime and cartel influence.
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