Youth-Led March Demands Action in Mexican Capital
Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Mexico City on Saturday, voicing their profound frustration with rampant crime, systemic corruption, and widespread impunity. The protest, initially organised by members of Generation Z, swelled to include a broad coalition of older supporters from opposition parties, creating a powerful, multi-generational display of public anger.
Clashes and Casualties Mark Largely Peaceful Protest
While the demonstration began peacefully, the day concluded with violent confrontations between a faction of young protesters and police forces. Protesters attacked officers with stones, fireworks, sticks, and chains, seizing police shields and equipment in the process. According to the capital’s security secretary, Pablo Vázquez, the clashes resulted in 120 people injured, including 100 police officers. Authorities confirmed that twenty individuals were arrested in connection with the disturbances.
A Global Movement Finds Its Voice in Mexico
This protest is part of a wider, international trend where Gen Z—the demographic cohort born between the late 1990s and early 2010s—is mobilising against inequality, democratic backsliding, and corruption. This year has seen significant actions, most notably in Nepal where similar protests led to the prime minister's resignation. In Mexico, young people express a deep-seated frustration with a system they feel is stacked against them.
Andres Massa, a 29-year-old business consultant at the march, captured the sentiment, stating, "We need more security" as he carried the pirate skull flag that has become a global emblem for Gen Z demonstrations.
The protest also drew support from older citizens who share the concerns. Arizbeth Garcia, a 43-year-old physician, joined the march to demand increased funding for the public health system and better security for medical professionals. "We are also exposed to the insecurity gripping the country, where you can be murdered and nothing happens," she explained.
Political Reactions and Divisions
The protest occurred against a backdrop of recent high-profile murders, including the assassination of a popular mayor in Michoacan. Despite this, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum maintains high approval ratings. In the days leading up to the demonstration, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of attempting to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and of using social media bots to artificially boost attendance.
The movement also saw internal shifts, with some Gen Z social media influencers withdrawing their support for Saturday's event. Conversely, high-profile figures like former President Vicente Fox and billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego publicly endorsed the protests.
The march united people from various age groups, including supporters of the slain Michoacan Mayor Carlos Manzo, who attended wearing the straw hats symbolic of his political movement. Rosa Maria Avila, a 65-year-old real estate agent, travelled from Patzcuaro to honour him, stating, "The state is dying." She praised Manzo, saying, "He was killed because he was a man who was sending officers into the mountains to fight delinquents. He had the guts to confront them."
