MEXICO CITY — At least 120 people — including 100 police officers — were injured Saturday as anti-government protests in the Mexican capital descended into violent clashes, authorities said.
Thousands of demonstrators marched through Mexico City to denounce rising violent crime and express anger at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government. Similar protests were held in several other cities.
Sheinbaum accused right-wing political opponents of financing the demonstrations, which were organized by Gen Z youth groups and fueled by outrage over a series of high-profile killings — including the assassination earlier this month of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, a vocal critic of cartel violence.
Protesters dismantled sections of the security barrier surrounding the National Palace, where Sheinbaum resides. Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to push through.
Mexico City Security Chief Pablo Vázquez said 20 people were arrested on charges including robbery and assault.
Many demonstrators carried signs reading “We are all Carlos Manzo,” while others wore cowboy hats in tribute to the mayor, who was shot dead on Nov. 1 while attending a Day of the Dead celebration. Manzo had repeatedly called for tougher measures against armed cartel groups in Michoacán.
Sheinbaum has pursued targeted operations against cartels but has resisted calls for a return to all-out militarized drug war strategies that left tens of thousands dead under previous administrations.
Days before the march, the president said the protest was being amplified by bots online. “We agree with freedom of expression and demonstration… but people should know how this was organized so that no one is used,” she said.
Despite the unrest, Sheinbaum maintains approval ratings above 70% in her first year in office and has gained U.S. support for cracking down on fentanyl trafficking. But she faces mounting domestic criticism over persistent insecurity — as well as diplomatic strain abroad.
Earlier this month, Peru’s Congress voted to declare her persona non grata after Peru severed diplomatic ties with Mexico over political asylum granted to a former Peruvian prime minister facing charges linked to a 2022 coup attempt. — BBC
