Thousands protested in Mexico City against rising drug violence, breaching barriers near the National Palace as anger over Sheinbaum’s security failures intensifies.
Mexico City witnessed a dramatic eruption of public anger on Saturday as thousands of protesters flooded the streets, condemning the relentless drug-cartel violence and accusing President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government of failing to keep the country safe.
The march, initially mobilized on social media by self-described Generation Z activists, quickly swelled into a multi-generational revolt, AFP reported. Young people, parents, elders — all marched with a shared frustration: Mexico’s security crisis has only deepened.
Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024 and still boasts approval ratings above 70%, is now facing the most serious backlash of her presidency. A series of high-profile murders, especially in the cartel-ravaged state of Michoacán, has shattered public confidence in her security strategy.
Banners reading “We are all Carlos Manzo” — referencing a murdered activist — rippled across the crowd. Many also carried the black pirate flag from the Japanese manga One Piece, a symbol now adopted globally by youth movements demanding justice and accountability.
The protest reached a tense crescendo when the crowd massed in front of the National Palace, where Sheinbaum both resides and works. Demonstrators knocked down metal barricades, pushing directly against the seat of presidential power.
For Israelis accustomed to fierce public debate and demanding accountability from leadership, the scene in Mexico City is strikingly familiar: a population refusing to remain silent as violence spreads and government promises fall short.
