Gen Z-Inspired Mexico City Protests Draw Older Critics of Sheinbaum
S Arefin 
Gen Z protest targets crime, corruption and impunity
Thousands of people marched through Mexico City to protest rising crime, corruption and impunity, in a rally branded as a “Generation Z” movement.
The march was called by the group “Generación Z México,” which used social media to urge protests in more than 50 cities nationwide.
Organisers said they wanted safer streets, stronger institutions and accountability for Mexico’s high levels of violence and disappearances. Many young protesters carried skull-and-crossbones flags that have become a symbol of Gen Z demonstrations.
Older opposition supporters swell protest crowds
Although the march was organised by younger activists, large numbers of older opposition supporters also joined the rally. Reporters on the ground said the crowd included families, pensioners and long-time critics of the left-wing Morena government.
Some demonstrators wore straw hats associated with Michoacán mayor Carlos Manzo, who was murdered during a Day of the Dead event after vowing to confront organised crime. His killing has become a rallying point for anger over cartel violence and state failures.
Earlier in the week, several Gen Z social-media influencers announced they were distancing themselves from the protests. However, prominent establishment figures, including former president Vicente Fox and billionaire broadcaster Ricardo Salinas Pliego, publicly endorsed the march.
Government accuses right-wing forces and online ‘bots’
President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration responded with scepticism and heavy security. In the days before the march, metal barricades went up around the National Palace on Zócalo square, the symbolic heart of political power.
Sheinbaum argued that the barriers were needed to protect people and historic buildings from possible vandalism. She also accused right-wing parties of trying to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and alleged that “bots” on social media were boosting calls to protest.
Meanwhile, organisers insisted their movement is non-partisan and driven by genuine frustration over insecurity, disappearing young people and limited job prospects. They reject claims of manipulation as an attempt to discredit their demands.
Protests turn violent near Mexico’s National Palace
Saturday’s march began peacefully but later turned violent as demonstrators reached the perimeter of the National Palace. According to Mexican outlet El Universal and international agencies, some protesters threw stones and pulled down sections of fencing, while police fired tear gas.
Reuters reported clashes that left around 100 police officers injured, with 40 hospitalised, and at least 20 civilians hurt and 20 people detained.
Human-rights groups have called for an investigation into the use of force and the treatment of detainees. As a result, the government faces fresh scrutiny over how it manages dissent, especially when led by younger Mexicans.
Gen Z anger fits a wider global protest wave
Mexico’s demonstrations are part of a broader surge of Gen Z-led protests from Latin America to Asia and Africa. This year, young people in countries such as Nepal and Madagascar organised mass rallies against inequality, democratic backsliding and corruption, sometimes forcing major political concessions.
In Mexico City, many participants say they are tired of living with constant fear of violence and a sense that crimes go unpunished. “We need more security,” one 29-year-old consultant told the Associated Press, adding that people feel they can “be murdered and nothing happens.”
For now, President Sheinbaum still holds high approval ratings, helped by social programmes and economic stability. However, the weekend’s unrest shows that a new generation of Mexicans is prepared to confront the government in the streets when it feels promises of safety and justice remain unfulfilled.
Image: AP Photo/Marco Ugarte
About The Author
Sultanul Arefin 
Suzan Seherin 
