Thousands marched in Mexico City in a Gen Z-organised protest against crime, corruption and impunity, but the crowd was largely made up of older opposition supporters. Supporters of the slain Michoacán mayor wore symbolic straw hats, while some influencers withdrew support and national figures publicly backed the demonstrations. The rally at the Zócalo escalated into clashes with security forces, with reports of tear gas, injuries and medics treating the wounded. The events are part of a broader wave of Gen Z activism this year in countries such as Nepal and Madagascar.
Gen Z-Led Mexico City Protest Draws Older Opposition Supporters and Escalates into Violent Clashes
Thousands marched in Mexico City in a Gen Z-organised protest against crime, corruption and impunity, but the crowd was largely made up of older opposition supporters. Supporters of the slain Michoacán mayor wore symbolic straw hats, while some influencers withdrew support and national figures publicly backed the demonstrations. The rally at the Zócalo escalated into clashes with security forces, with reports of tear gas, injuries and medics treating the wounded. The events are part of a broader wave of Gen Z activism this year in countries such as Nepal and Madagascar.
07:11 AM, 11/16/2025Society
Gen Z-Led Mexico City Protest Draws Older Opposition Supporters and Escalates into Violent Clashes
Thousands of people marched in Mexico City on Saturday to denounce rising crime, corruption and impunity. Although the demonstration was organised by members of Generation Z, the crowd was largely composed of older critics of the government and supporters of opposition parties.
People from several age groups joined the march. Supporters of the recently killed Michoacán mayor, Carlos Manzo, attended wearing the straw hats that have become a symbol of his political movement.
Earlier in the week some Gen Z social-media influencers withdrew their public support for Saturday’s action, while prominent national figures — including former President Vicente Fox and businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego — posted messages backing the protests.
President Claudia Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of attempting to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and said there were efforts to inflate attendance using bots on social platforms.
Gen Z activism in a global context
Activism by Generation Z has surfaced elsewhere this year. In several Asian and African countries, young people have staged protests over inequality, democratic backsliding and corruption. In September, major demonstrations in Nepal followed a ban on social media and contributed to the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. That same month, protests in Madagascar — initially sparked by chronic water and electricity shortages — exposed wider government failures and corruption and were reported to have contributed to a government dissolution and political upheaval.
Clashes at the Zócalo
Saturday’s march in Mexico City escalated into clashes with security forces, according to reporting by El Universal. The newspaper said security personnel fired tear gas and threw stones at demonstrators as they reached the perimeter of the National Palace in the Zócalo, the city’s main plaza.
El Universal quoted witnesses saying security forces, "with their shields and stones, physically assaulted young people demonstrating in … Zócalo," leaving some injured and receiving treatment from doctors who were also participating in the march and from ERUM (Emergency Rescue and Medical Emergencies Squadron) personnel.
The outlet added that police chased and beat protesters across the Zócalo for several minutes before forcing people out of the area and dispersing the final groups.
Many young Mexicans say they are frustrated by systemic problems such as corruption and impunity for violent crimes. "We need more security," said Andrés Massa, a 29-year-old business consultant who carried the pirate skull flag that has become a global emblem of Gen Z protests, to The Associated Press.
Claudia Cruz, a 43-year-old physician who joined the march, said she was calling for increased funding for public health and better security because medical staff are also vulnerable to the country's violence, where "you can be murdered and nothing happens."
Despite recent high-profile killings, including that of Manzo, President Sheinbaum continues to maintain relatively high approval ratings.