Mexico City turned into a battleground on Saturday as the Gen Z movement intensified, unleashing violent clashes between thousands of young protesters and police forces. Demonstrators hurled stones, swung chains, and used sticks against officers, while police seized shields and protective gear in an attempt to regain control.
The movement, driven by anger over corruption, crime, and deepening inequality, is rapidly spreading across Mexico. The protests drew not only young Mexicans but also elderly supporters aligned with opposition parties.
Security Secretary Pablo Vazquez confirmed that 120 people were injured, including 100 police officers, and 20 protesters were arrested.
A pirate-skull flag — now the emblem of Mexico’s Gen Z rebellion — was seen flying across the capital as demonstrators declared the country “on the brink.”
Doctors join the uprising.
Arizabeth Garcia, a 43-year-old physician, said she marched to demand increased health-sector funding and stronger security protections. “Doctors live in constant fear of being murdered,” she said.
The Gen Z wave is global. The largest youth-led protest this year erupted in Nepal in September after a social-media ban, toppling the sitting Prime Minister. Now the movement is gripping Mexico as youth frustration reaches a boiling point.
Despite political turbulence and recent high-profile killings — including the assassination of Michoacan’s popular mayor Carlos Manzo — President Claudia Sheinbaum’s approval remains stable. She has accused right-wing groups of hijacking the Gen Z movement and using social media to fuel unrest.
Supporters of the slain mayor joined the march in straw hats, symbolizing their political struggle. “The state is dying,” said 65-year-old real-estate agent Rosa Maria Avila. “Manzo was killed because he dared to stand up to criminals.”
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