The ongoing national security crisis will be the focus of thousands in Mexico City, and in other cities throughout the country.
The protests, organized under the slogan “Generation Z Mexico”, attracted participants of all ages. These included older activists of opposition parties as well as supporters of local leaders who were killed. The events in Mexico City, which were centered on the historic Zocalo Square outside of National Palace, brought to light deep-seated discontent with violence and corruption.
The marches started peacefully but descended into violent clashes between riot police. This resulted in more than 120 injuries, mostly among the officers, and over 20 arrests.
Protests started after the murder of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo in 2025 during an event celebrating the Day of the Dead. Manzo was killed in front of an angry crowd after he split with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena Party in 2024. He had pursued a radical anti-cartel agenda.
It was the seventh assassination of a Mexican mayor that year. This underscored the dangers facing local officials who are fighting organized crime.
Manzo supporters, recognizable by the straw hats that symbolize his movement, , joined in Michoacan marches and traveled to Mexico City, with banners saying “We are Carlos Manzo,” and “Carlos didn’t die; the government murdered him.”
Mexico is still grappling with over 20,000 cartel related homicides per year, along with widespread kidnappings and extortion.
The protesters displayed Mexican flags along with symbols of global youth movements such as the Pirate flag from One Piece to show solidarity with similar actions led by Gen Z in other countries earlier this year, including Nepal and Bangladesh.
The Mexican city protests saw 120 people injured, most of them police officers. Participants, among them Arizbeth Garca, a 43 year-old doctor, called for more funding in public health and increased security. They noted that doctors are routinely threatened by criminal organizations.
The footage of the protests on Saturday shows that many people climbed over security fences outside government buildings in Mexico, including the Presidential Palace.
Tremenda imagen que muestra la magnitud de la manifestacion contra Claudia Sheinbaum en Mexico. pic.twitter.com/rvlTJRU8Hp
— Dani Lerer (@danilerer) November 15, 2025
Anti Sheinbaum protesters have scaled the wall that protects the National Palace of Mexico City. Mexican police have responded with crowd control munition. pic.twitter.com/WgdIMi1K1e
Julio Rosas 15 November 2025
They demanded a stronger intervention by the state against cartels and prosecution of corrupt officials. Also, they wanted to end impunity in violent crimes. The protesters demanded judicial reforms that would expedite drug-lord trials, increased transparency of government security spending, and policies to address root causes such as poverty and weapons trafficking.
Just over one year after taking office, President Sheinbaum has been criticized for her inability to deal with drug cartels. Sheinbaum’s willingness to fight organized crime is demonstrated by an increase of 11 percent in arrests related to cartels. However, her critics argue that the administration has fallen far short.
Sheinbaum’s critics have also claimed that Sheinbaum failed to take action against political allies who had ties with drug trafficking groups.
Sheinbaum’s criticism of the U.S. government for designating Mexican cartels terrorists in February 2025 has led to tensions. Sheinbaum described this as unhelpful, and a violation of sovereignty. Sheinbaum then promised constitutional reforms that would strengthen protections. Sheinbaum has been at odds with Trump Administration on occasion over his criticisms of U.S. Foreign Policy. However, the two countries also worked together to combat cartels and seize fentanyl precursers.
