Thousands March in Mexico Against Corruption and Crime; Clashes Leave 120 Injured

Several thousand people took to the streets across Mexico on Saturday to protest against corruption, rising crime and widespread impunity. The demonstrations — driven largely by Gen Z participants and supported by older opposition sympathizers — remained mostly peaceful until some young protesters clashed with police.

Mexico City’s security secretary, Pablo Vázquez, said 120 people were injured in the clashes, including 100 police officers. According to the Associated Press, protesters hurled stones, fireworks, sticks and chains at officers, seizing police shields and other gear.

The unrest comes amid a wave of high-profile killings, including the assassination of a popular mayor in Michoacán. Despite this, President Claudia Sheinbaum continues to enjoy strong approval ratings.

Ahead of the march, Sheinbaum accused right-wing parties of infiltrating Gen Z groups and using social-media bots to inflate turnout.

A pirate-skull flag — now a symbol of Gen Z activism — was seen across the demonstrations. This year, youth-led protests have swept several countries, with the largest in Nepal in September following a social-media ban that ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Oli.

Frustration With Systemic Failures

In Mexico, many young protesters say they are fed up with long-standing issues like corruption and a lack of accountability for violent crime.

Arizbeth García, a 43-year-old physician, said she marched for better funding for public healthcare and improved security for doctors working in dangerous areas, adding, “You can be murdered here and nothing happens.”

Some Gen Z influencers who initially supported the movement have since distanced themselves. However, older figures — including former President Vicente Fox and billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego — voiced support online.

Supporters of the slain Michoacán mayor also joined the march, wearing straw hats that symbolize his political movement.

“The state is dying,” said Rosa María Ávila, a 65-year-old real estate agent from Pátzcuaro, who believes the mayor was targeted for sending officers into the mountains to confront criminal groups.