Thousands of young Mexicans mobilized across the country on Saturday in a wave of protests branded by organizers as a “Generation Z” movement, demanding stronger government action against rising violence following the high-profile murder of an anti-crime mayor earlier this month.
In Mexico City, tensions escalated when a subset of hooded demonstrators dismantled metal barriers surrounding the National Palace, the residence of President Claudia Sheinbaum. The confrontation sparked clashes with riot police, who responded with tear gas to push back the crowd, according to witnesses on the scene.
Mexico City Public Safety Secretary Pablo Vázquez later reported in a press briefing that around 100 police officers sustained injuries—40 of whom were hospitalized. He added that approximately 20 civilians were injured in the disturbances. Authorities detained 20 people and referred another 20 individuals for administrative violations.
Demonstrations were not limited to the capital. Marches were held in multiple states, including Michoacán, where outrage remains high after Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo was fatally shot on November 1 during a public Day of the Dead ceremony. His killing, widely viewed as a symbol of deepening insecurity, has galvanized youth activists and local communities alike.
In the capital, protesters directed their anger toward the ruling Morena party, chanting “Fuera, Morena” (“Out, Morena”). Others accused authorities of negligence or complicity in rising violence, shouting, “Carlos didn’t die, the government killed him.”
The group behind the mobilization, “Generation Z Mexico,” circulated a manifesto online asserting that the movement is non-partisan. It claims to represent a growing coalition of young people frustrated with corruption, violence, and abuses of power. The use of the Gen Z label echoes youth-led protest movements in several countries, where young activists have invoked the generational identity to push for political and social reforms.
Government officials, however, have cast doubt on the authenticity and independence of the demonstrations. Members of Sheinbaum’s administration suggested that conservative political factions may have coordinated aspects of the protests and amplified them through automated social media accounts.
Despite these claims, the weekend unrest underscores a broader national anxiety over public security, as well as the increasingly vocal role of young Mexicans in shaping the country’s political discourse.
Source:Africa Publicity
