Gen Z Fury Erupts: Crime and Corruption Protests Rock Mexico City
London, UK – November 16, 2025
A wave of palpable Gen Z fury erupted across Mexico City this past weekend, turning a mass protest against systemic crime and corruption into violent clashes outside the National Palace.
Thousands of frustrated citizens, primarily young activists but supported by older opposition figures, took to the streets to demand government accountability following a high-profile political assassination.
This spontaneous yet globally inspired movement, initially organized by “Generation Z Mexico” on social media, culminated in a tense standoff with riot police in the capital’s historic Zócalo square, leaving scores of individuals injured and dozens detained.
The demonstration was directly fueled by the murder of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo earlier this month. Manzo, a fierce anti-crime crusader in the western state of Michoacán, was fatally shot on November 1st during a public Day of the Dead event.
The assassination has become a potent symbol of Mexico’s deepening security crisis and the widespread impunity that shields perpetrators of violent crime and corruption from justice.
Protesters carried banners declaring, “We are all Carlos Manzo,” and many wore the straw hats that symbolized the late mayor’s political movement, embodying the collective anger at a government they accuse of failing to protect its citizens.
Clashes at the National Palace
The march, which began peacefully, took a violent turn as a small group of hooded demonstrators reached the National Palace, the residence and office of President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Despite large, three-meter-high metal barriers installed days in advance to protect the historic site, the protesters managed to tear down sections of the fencing. The breach immediately escalated the situation, prompting riot police to deploy tear gas and fire extinguishers to disperse the crowd.
Mexico City’s Public Safety Secretary, Pablo Vázquez, later confirmed the extent of the violence. A staggering 100 police officers were injured during the clashes, with 40 requiring hospital treatment for contusions and trauma.
Additionally, approximately 20 civilians were reported hurt. In the immediate aftermath, 20 individuals were arrested on charges including theft and assault, while another 20 were detained for administrative offences.
The sight of police officers being rushed from the square underscored the intensity of the confrontation, with witnesses reporting that protesters hurled projectiles, including stones and paving blocks, at the security forces.
A widely reported chant directed at the police, “This is how you should have protected Carlos Manzo,” highlighted the deep sense of betrayal felt by the demonstrators regarding the government’s security failures.
The Wider Context of Global Gen Z Movements
The Mexico City event is part of a growing international trend of youth-led political activism. Similar “Gen Z” protests have erupted in recent months across countries like Nepal, Morocco, and Peru, often mobilized rapidly through social media channels.
While the specific grievances vary—from social media bans in Nepal to corruption in Latin America—these movements are united by the age of the participants, a common use of global symbols (such as the pirate flag from the Japanese manga One Piece seen in Mexico City), and a shared frustration with systemic inequality and corruption.
In the days leading up to the Mexico City demonstration, President Sheinbaum had publicly dismissed the movement. She suggested the protests were “inorganic” and “paid for,” claiming they were being promoted from abroad and infiltrated by right-wing opposition parties to undermine her government.
While the protest was predominantly a youth movement, it was openly supported by figures like former President Vicente Fox and billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, lending credence to the government’s claims of political infiltration.
However, the movement’s organizers, “Generation Z Mexico,” maintain their non-partisan status, insisting their primary motivation is the youth’s deep-seated frustration with the persistent abuse of power and rampant impunity in Mexico.
Calls for Accountability and Security Reform
The core demand of the thousands who marched remains a radical overhaul of the government’s security strategy. Despite President Sheinbaum’s relatively high approval ratings (above 70%), her administration has faced increasing criticism over its inability to curb violent crime, a failure underscored by the murder of a high-profile anti-crime mayor.
The protests serve as a clear warning shot to the administration that public tolerance for the country’s drug violence and corruption crisis is rapidly diminishing.
The demonstration’s violent conclusion may overshadow its initial goals, but it has undeniably succeeded in bringing the country’s security and accountability failures back to the forefront of the national and international agenda.
Future stability hinges on how the government responds to this significant display of popular anger, particularly among the nation’s youth.
Headline Points
Violent Clashes Erupt:
Anti-crime and anti-corruption march in Mexico City turned violent as protesters clashed with riot police outside the National Palace.
Triggered by Mayor’s Murder:
The protest was a direct response to the recent assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, a vocal opponent of drug trafficking gangs.
Casualty Report:
100 police officers and 20 civilians were injured, with 40 officers requiring hospital treatment. 40 individuals were detained or arrested.
President Sheinbaum’s View:
President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed the movement as “paid for” and “inorganic,” claiming it was a political attack promoted from abroad.
Global Youth Trend:
The demonstration is linked to a growing international trend of “Generation Z” protests against corruption and inequality across the globe.
