More than 100 people were injured and 20 arrested during a massive protest on Saturday in Mexico City against the president’s handling of violent crime, local government officials said.
Thousands marched on the capital’s historic main public square, the Zocalo, in a demonstration fuelled by young Mexicans with ties to a global wave of Generation Z protests as well as supporters of the domestic “Sombrero Movement” which emerged after the recent assassination of a mayor known for his fight against organised crime.
Participants of all ages took part in the rally in front of the National Palace, where President Claudia Sheinbaum lives and works.
Several protesters, some wearing balaclavas, toppled the metal barriers protecting the palace and threw paving stones at riot police, who responded with tear gas.

Mexico City witnessed hours of peaceful demonstration, which unfortunately turned violent when a group of masked individuals began engaging in destructive behavior. This was confirmed by the city’s security chief, Pablo Vazquez, during a briefing with reporters.

Twenty protesters and 100 police were injured, with 40 officers hospitalised for cuts and bruises, he added.

Vazquez noted that the authorities had detained 20 individuals on charges of theft and assault. There is also an ongoing investigation into an attack on a journalist from La Jornada newspaper, with allegations suggesting police involvement in the incident.

Amidst the chaos, a protester expressed frustration, stating, “It’s a corrupt narco-government that wants to defend the corrupt and the cartels instead of the people.”

Sheinbaum, in power since October 2024, maintained approval ratings above 70 per cent in her first year in office but faced growing criticism of her security policies in the wake of several high-profile murders.
“This is one of the most corrupt governments we’ve ever had,” said Valentina Ramirez, a student interviewed by AFP.

Adding to the controversy, earlier in the week, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum had publicly questioned the motives behind the protest. During her regular morning press conference, she described the demonstration as “inorganic” and “paid for,” raising doubts about its authenticity.

On Saturday, several protesters wore sombreros similar to the style of hat made famous by Carlos Manzo, a mayor in western Michoacan state who was assassinated on 1 November.
He had been known for his crusade against drug-trafficking gangs in his hometown Uruapan.
The assassinated mayor’s widow, however, distanced her husband’s movement from the demonstration on Saturday.
Bernardo Bravo, a leader of lime producers in the same region, had also been shot dead in late October.

Earlier this week, Sheinbaum questioned the motivations for the demonstration and said at her regular morning news conference that the protest was “inorganic” and “paid for”.

“It is a movement promoted from abroad against the government,” she said.
Demonstrators displayed banners bearing messages such as “We are all Carlos Manzo” alongside the iconic pirate flag from the Japanese manga One Piece, which has become a symbol of youth protest around the world, from Madagascar to the Philippines and Peru.
“You should have protected Carlos Manzo like this!” some protesters shouted at security forces, who responded with fire extinguishers and tear gas.

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