Gen Z across cities in Mexico went all out on Sunday as visuals of heavily packed demonstrations flooded the Internet. At least 120 people, mostly police officers, were injured as tens of thousands demonstrators protested against violent crime and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government’s handling of corruption.

According to the BBC, Sheinbaum maintains approval ratings above 70% in her first year in office. However, she has often been the subject of staunch criticism over failure to clamp down on violence riddling the country.

As calls for her to resign mount, Rodrigo Santana, an actor and singer, participating in the Mexico City protest expressed her saddening frustration over the president’s inability to declare an all-our war against crime. “I am tired and saddened by the situation in the country today,” the demonstrator said, as per the New York Times.

“The goal of this march is precisely to remove the president. And to show that we are angry, that the people are not with her.”

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Mexican mayor’s assassination fuelled Gen Z protests

The “Generation Z” styled protests gained momentum in the city amid rising anger over high-profile killings. The most recent inclusion to the contentious pool was the November 1 assassination of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state.

The prominent political figure was particularly celebrated for his anti-crime stance and called on for severe action against drug trafficking gangs and cartel violence. He was killed at a Day of the Dead festival.

“He was killed because he was a man who was sending officers into the mountains to fight delinquents,” said a 65-year-old real estate agent, as per the Guardian. “He had the guts to confront them.”

While many donned cowboy hats as a tribute to the Mexican mayor, others held up banners with messages like “We are all Carlos Manzo.”

Gen Z vs riot police: Anti-government protests in Mexico

The security chief for Mexico City, Pablo Vazquez, said that while the Gen Z-led protests started out peacefully, “a group of hooded individuals began to commit acts of violence.” He also told reporters that authorities had already arrested 20 people, citing crimes spanning from robbery to assault.

As hooded demonstrator eventually leapt to violent action, tearing down metal fences around the National Palace where Sheinbaum lives, a clash with riot police ensued, according to Reuters witnesses. The latter resorted to deploying tear gas, making matter even worse.

Police shielding the residence compound intensified the protestors’ ire, as some shouted at the forces, “This is how you should have protected Carlos Manzo.”

As per a more recent visual update shared online, Mexican Gen Z protestors were seen breaching the “presidential palace” within less than 24 hours of having kicked off the overwhelming uprising against the president.

Given the strength of the demonstration’s turnout, the security forces guarding the National Palace in Mexico City were severely outnumbered.

What is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum saying?

Sheinbaum, on her part, claimed that right-wing politicians, who are against her government, funded the protests organised by Gen Z groups, as mayhem broke out on the streets.

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In addition to her hefty accusations against the opposition, the president also claimed days ahead of the protest that it was being promoted by bots online.

“We agree with freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration if there are young people who have demands, but the issue here is who is promoting the demonstration,” she said in a briefing. “People should know how this demonstration was organised so that no one is used.”

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