“Gen Z” Protests Against Crime and Corruption Bring Thousands to Mexico City

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Mexico City on Saturday as part of growing “Gen Z” protests against rampant crime, corruption, and impunity. While the movement is driven largely by young people, the demonstration saw strong participation from older supporters of Mexico’s opposition parties.

The march took place against the backdrop of escalating violence and political instability, intensified by several high-profile killings across the country. Protesters voiced frustration with persistent structural issues, including widespread impunity for violent crimes and a deeply rooted culture of corruption.

Generation Z – broadly defined as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s – has emerged this year as a powerful force in global movements challenging inequality, democratic backsliding, and government abuse. In Nepal, massive Gen Z-led demonstrations following a social media Ban sparked political upheaval and ultimately contributed to the resignation of the country’s prime minister.

In Mexico, many young activists expressed anger over the country’s chronic public security failures. “We need more security,” said 29-year-old business consultant Andres Massa, who carried the now-iconic pirate skull flag associated with Gen Z protest movements worldwide.

Although youth spearheaded the demonstrations, older citizens joined in solidarity. Arizbeth Garcia, a 43-year-old physician, said she marched to demand greater funding for Mexico’s public health system and improved safety for medical workers. Doctors, she noted, “are also exposed to the insecurity gripping the country, where you can be murdered and nothing happens.”

Despite public outrage over recent killings – including the assassination of a widely respected mayor in the western state of Michoacán – President Claudia Sheinbaum continues to maintain strong approval ratings. Ahead of the protest, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of trying to infiltrate the Gen Z movement and using social media bots to artificially increase turnout.

Several Gen Z influencers later distanced themselves from Saturday’s rally, withdrawing their support. Nonetheless, prominent opposition figures such as Billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego and former President Vicente Fox expressed solidarity with the demonstrations.

The march drew people of all ages. Supporters of Carlos Manzo, the recently slain mayor of Michoacán, wore the signature straw hats symbolizing his political movement as they honored his legacy.

“The state is dying,” said Rosa María Avila, a 65-year-old real estate worker from Patzcuaro, Michoacán. She blamed Manzo’s killing on his willingness to confront criminal groups directly. “He was killed because he was a man who was sending officers into the mountains to fight delinquents. He had the guts to confront them,” she said.