Mexico : Following Nepal, the Gen-Z protest wave has spread to Mexico, where thousands of young people marched in the streets on Saturday to protest escalating crime, corruption, and unbridled violence. The protests arose mostly in response to President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government’s alleged failure to combat drug cartel activity and strengthen public security.
The movement grew stronger following the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo, who had been spearheading an intense battle against drug traffickers in Michoacán. His assassination became a catalyst, prompting young people across the country to mobilise.
Mexico : Opposition parties support Gen Z protestors
The Gen-Z-led campaign has received open backing from opposition party leaders and followers of all ages, giving the protest a broader and more potent platform. While most demonstrations were peaceful, skirmishes erupted between teenage activists and police near the end of the march.
Protesters threw stones, firecrackers, sticks, and chains at police officers, and in some cases, took their shields and equipment. Security personnel replied with tear gas and baton charges, which heightened tensions in the capital.
Violent fights resulted in 120 injuries and 20 arrests
Pablo Vázquez, Mexico City’s Security Secretary, stated that 120 individuals were hurt during the fights, including 100 police officers. Authorities detained 20 demonstrators in connection with the violence.
Viral images circulating on social media show police dragging demonstrators and employing force, leading to accusations of arbitrary imprisonment and abuse of power.
Understanding the Generation Z movement
Gen-Z—those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s—has emerged as a global movement fighting inequality, democratic collapse, and corruption. Earlier this year, enormous Gen-Z protests in Nepal in response to a social media ban prompted Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation.
Young Mexicans say they are fed up with structural failures, massive corruption, brutal crime, and criminals’ impunity. Many people blame the administration of enabling the country to devolve into a “narco-state,” where cartel violence and forced disappearances continue to escalate.
Social media is propelling a nationwide movement.
Social media fueled the protest’s momentum, attracting people of all ages. Former President Vicente Fox and millionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego showed their support online.
Demonstrators burst down barricades near the National Palace and demanded President Sheinbaum’s resignation. Many others hoisted pirate flags inspired by the anime One Piece, which has become a symbol of Gen-Z rallies around the world.
Andrés Masa, a 29-year-old demonstrator, summed up the mounting frustration: “We need more security.” “The country is perishing.”
The movement has now moved outside Mexico City to numerous other places, with young people accusing the government of failing to control cartel violence.
