Thousands of young people filled Mexico City streets on Saturday, protesting corruption, rising violence, and governmental neglect. The march reached the Zócalo, where clashes injured 20 civilians and over 100 police officers, while authorities arrested around 20 participants.
Generation Z coordinated marches in 52 cities across Mexico and internationally in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. The movement erupted after the murder of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo on 1 November. Manzo had repeatedly called for federal action against organized crime in Michoacán, but officials ignored his warnings. His assassination became a rallying point for youth demanding systemic accountability.
Protesters included students, community members, activists, opposition party members, and citizens frustrated by violence. Mexico City Security Secretary Pablo Vázquez confirmed the scale of injuries and arrests, emphasizing law enforcement’s ongoing investigation into the violent acts.
March Turns Chaotic at the National Palace
The march progressed peacefully until reaching the Zócalo. A masked faction, the “black bloc,” breached the crowd and attacked barricades guarding the National Palace. Protesters used stones, hammers, and sticks, prompting police to respond with tear gas and fire extinguishers.
Medical teams treated 60 officers on site and transported 40 to hospitals, with four requiring specialized care. Paramedics attended 20 civilians at the scene. Authorities charged several detainees with violent conduct and processed others for administrative offenses. Officials are reviewing footage to identify all participants involved in destruction or assaults.
President Claudia Sheinbaum called for peaceful demonstrations and condemned violence. She emphasized that civic action must remain nonviolent, while downplaying the size of the march despite the massive turnout.
Generation Z Demands a New Path for Mexico
Mexico’s Generation Z identifies as civic, independent, and non-partisan. Their slogan states: “We are not left or right; we are citizens demanding respect and accountability.”
The movement released a 12-point platform aiming to reshape governance, including:
- Establish citizen assemblies to monitor public officials’ performance.
- Create rapid-response channels for reporting corruption with public accountability.
- Implement direct democracy tools allowing citizens to propose new laws.
- Develop community councils to oversee local policing and security programs.
- Mandate public audits of all government contracts and spending.
- Offer guaranteed education and job training programs for youth.
- Strengthen housing protections to prevent displacement and gentrification.
- Expand environmental oversight with citizen participation in urban planning.
- Promote transparent judicial appointments based on merit and civic input.
- Launch programs empowering ethical leadership in local government.
- Ensure broad access to mental health and public health services.
- Hold national forums allowing citizens to expand or adjust the movement’s priorities.
Generation Z protests in Mexico reflect a global phenomenon seen in Nepal, Paraguay, Madagascar, Morocco, Bangladesh, and Mongolia. Young people use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X to organize, bypassing traditional media channels.
The root causes remain consistent worldwide: dissatisfaction with corrupt governments, economic instability, limited opportunities, and declining living standards. In Mexico, the youth movement calls for profound reform, demanding accountability, transparency, and a more equitable and secure future.
