Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Mexico on Saturday, following a call from representatives of the so-called Generation Z (Gen Z) to condemn the increasing violence after the ostentatious killing of a mayor who led the fight against crime, Reuters reported.
In Mexico City, a small group of protesters, hiding their faces with hoods and masks, climbed the fences around the National Palace, which is also the residence of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Their actions prompted police to use tear gas.
The Minister of Security and Citizen Protection, Pablo Vazquez, told a news conference that more than 100 law enforcement officers were injured, 40 of whom had to be taken to hospitals. 20 civilians were also injured. Vázquez added that police had detained 20 protesters and another 20 had been booked for "administrative offenses."
There were also protests in other parts of the country, including in the western state of Michoacan, where public anger over the killing of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo began. He was shot dead on November 1 during Day of the Dead celebrations.
Some of the protesters in the capital have directed their anger at Sheinbaum's National Renewal Movement (MORENA) party. Some protesters have called on the government to take more decisive action against crime and violence. Slogans such as "Down with MORENA" and "Carlos didn't die, the government killed him" were heard.
The protests were initiated by a group calling itself "Generation Z Mexico." The group said in a "manifesto" circulated on social media that it is a non-partisan organization and represents Mexican youth who are fed up with violence, corruption and abuse of power.
The name Gen Z refers to people born between 1997 and 2012. In several countries around the world, protesters calling themselves Gen Z are demanding political and social change.
The Sheinbaum government has expressed doubts about the motives for the protests, saying they are organized by right-wing political opponents who are encouraging people to take to the streets through social media bots.