Thousands of people took to the streets of cities across Mexico on Saturday to protest against government security policies which they say have failed to curb increasing violence in the country.
The protests, which took place under the banner of “Generation Z” in the style of other such youth movements around the world, were prompted in particular by the murder of an anti-crime mayor earlier this month.
“Carlos did not die; the government killed him,” chanted demonstrators in Mexico City, referring to the late mayor of Uruapan in the western state of Michoacan, who was shot dead at a public Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) event on November 1.
A small group of hooded protesters even tore down metal fences around the National Palace where Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum lives and works, prompting clashes with riot police who responded with tear gas and fire extinguishers.
“This is how you should have protected Carlos Manzo,” some of the protesters shouted at the security forces, according to the Reuters news agency.
Mexico City’s public safety secretary Pablo Vazquez said in a press conference that 100 police officers were injured, including 40 who required hospital treatment.
Another 20 civilians were also injured, 20 arrested and another 20 “referred for administrative offenses.”
Sheinbaum: protests are ‘paid for’ from abroad
Earlier this week, President Sheinbaum questioned the motivations for the demonstrations and said at her regular morning press conference that the protests were “inorganic” and “paid for.”
“It is a movement promoted from abroad against the government,” the Mexican president said, claiming it was organized in large part by right-leaning political opponents and promoted by bots on social media.
While there were international elements to the protests, such as the pirate flag emblematic of the Japanese manga “One Piece,” which has become a symbol of global youth protest, other aspects were distinctly Mexican.
In addition to banners referring to the late Uruapan Mayor Manzo, others called for the removal of Sheinbaum’s MORENA party.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
