In various cities in Mexico, and especially in the capital, Mexico City, thousands of people, especially young people, protested, accusing the government of not doing enough to curb the violence of drug trafficking groups in the country. What sparked these protests in particular was the assassination, in early November, of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, mayor of the state of Michoacán who was heavily involved in fighting drug trafficking cartels, which are very powerful in the region: Manzo Rodríguez had repeatedly asked the federal government for more assistance to local governments in fighting them and had been living under guard since 2024. He was killed with three gunshots at an event for Day of the DeadDay of the Dead celebration.
Saturday’s protests took place mostly (but not only) in Mexico City: there were clashes and about a hundred law enforcement officers were injured, some of whom were hospitalized. About twenty protesters were also injured. Local authorities said at least 20 people were arrested. The protests were mainly directed against president Claudia Sheinbaum, who, despite a good level of consensus, was opposed and accused of not ensuring adequate security. Under Sheinbaum’s leadership, murders and other violent crimes have decreased, but horrific crimes like those committed against Manzo Rodríguez still occur.
Among the protesters there were some who unfurled banners that read Generation Z (“generation Z”, which includes those born between 1997 and 2012): this is a category of people protesting in various countries, claiming their generational membership as a driving force for demanding social and political change.
