Thousands of protesters marched on Saturday in Mexico City against violent crime and the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum. According to Sheinbaum, similar demonstrations in other cities were allegedly funded by right-wing politicians opposing her government.
The protest was largely organized by Generation Z youth groups, attracting citizens demanding justice for high-profile killings, including the recent assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who had advocated for stricter measures against criminal cartels.
Protesters broke through barriers protecting the National Palace, where Sheinbaum resides. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Twenty individuals were arrested for offenses including theft and assault, according to Mexico City security chief Pablo Vazquez.
Demonstrators carried banners reading “We are all Carlos Manzo”, with some wearing cowboy hats in tribute to the slain mayor. Manzo, shot on 1 November, was known for openly opposing drug trafficking gangs and calling for stronger intervention against armed cartel members spreading terror in his city.
While Sheinbaum has taken action against cartels, she refused calls for a full-scale war on drugs, citing past bloody failures under previous administrations. She noted that the protest was amplified through social media platforms in the days leading up to the march.
