Mexico erupts in ‘Gen Z protests’: How it fits into global wave of youth movements and what it means for Sheinbaum

A demonstrator holds a Mexican flag during clashes at a rally against the government of Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico on November 15, 2025. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)

The wave of “Gen Z protests” that has swept through several parts of Asia and Europe this year has now reached Mexico. What started as an online call by a youth-led collective has turned into a national outpouring of anger over corruption, crime, and the government’s inability to tackle rising violence.

Over the weekend, thousands of people marched in at least 50 Mexican cities. The largest demonstrations took place in the capital, Mexico City, where tensions escalated outside the National Palace, the official residence and workplace of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

While most demonstrations remained peaceful during the day, the evening saw violent clashes. Hooded protesters dismantled barricades near the palace, leading riot police to respond with tear gas and shields. Over a hundred people were injured, and the incident has renewed debate about Mexico’s worsening security situation just one year into Sheinbaum’s presidency.

What sparked the protests

The immediate trigger for the unrest was the assassination of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán. Manzo was shot dead on November 1 during a Day of the Dead celebration, in front of a large crowd. He had taken a strong stand against drug cartels and had repeatedly requested federal help to curb organized crime.

His death came months after another Michoacán mayor, Salvador Bastidas of Tacámbaro, was killed in June, adding to a growing list of political assassinations in the region. For many Mexicans, Manzo’s killing symbolized a deeper collapse of law and order. Protesters carried his trademark straw hat and chanted in his memory. However, his widow distanced herself from the marches, saying she was uncomfortable with the political direction the demonstrations were taking.

A few days later, a youth-led organization called “Generation Z Mexico” released a manifesto online. The group described itself as non-partisan and said it represented young people “fed up with violence, corruption and abuse of power.” The call spread rapidly on social media, leading to large demonstrations that extended far beyond student circles.

Why these are called ‘Gen Z’ protests

The movement drew heavily from Gen Z culture and activism. The protesters used online coordination, shared digital art, and waved a pirate-skull flag that originated from Japanese manga and has become a symbol of defiance in other youth movements.

“Generation Z” generally refers to people born between 1997 and 2012. Many of the protesters were students and young professionals expressing frustration about insecurity and corruption. But the crowds were not exclusively young. According to the Associated Press, older citizens, including doctors, business owners, and activists, joined the demonstrations, lending them wider legitimacy.

Some Gen Z influencers who initially supported the protests later backed out. At the same time, prominent public figures such as former President Vicente Fox and businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego voiced support online, giving the movement greater visibility.

The protests have also drawn comparisons to similar youth-led movements in other countries. Earlier this year, large-scale “Gen Z” protests in Nepal against corruption and democratic decline led to the resignation of that country’s prime minister.

What happened outside the National Palace

The most intense confrontation took place in Mexico City. According to Reuters, protesters wearing hoods pulled down the metal barriers surrounding the National Palace. Police then fired tear gas and used shields to disperse the crowd. The AP reported that demonstrators hurled “stones, fireworks, sticks and chains” and even grabbed riot police equipment during the clashes.

Public Safety Secretary Pablo Vázquez confirmed that about 120 people were injured, including 100 police officers. Dozens required hospital treatment. Around 20 protesters were also injured, and another 20 were arrested for assault, theft, and other offenses.

The protests featured strong anti-government slogans. Some chanted “Out, Morena,” targeting the ruling party, while others shouted “the government killed Carlos,” blaming state negligence for the mayor’s murder.

What the protesters want

Although triggered by the killing of Carlos Manzo, the demonstrations have evolved into a broader movement addressing Mexico’s long-standing issues of violence, impunity, and corruption. The key demands include:

• Stronger state action against crime and cartels
• Greater government accountability for corruption and human rights abuses
• A shift away from current security strategies

Why crime remains Mexico’s central issue

Mexico has been battling organized crime for decades. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the country “faces a crisis of kidnappings, disappearances, and other criminal violence that has left over 30,000 people dead each year since 2018.”

Many experts trace the roots of today’s crisis to 2006, when the federal government first deployed the military against drug cartels. Instead of weakening the criminal networks, this militarized approach often intensified violence.

President Sheinbaum has continued her predecessor’s “hugs, not bullets” strategy, which focuses on intelligence-led operations and social programs rather than direct military confrontation. While some see this as a humane approach, many citizens view it as too soft against heavily armed criminal groups.

How President Sheinbaum has responded

Despite the protests, Sheinbaum’s approval ratings remain high at over 70 percent. However, the string of high-profile killings has increased scrutiny of her leadership. She has dismissed the protests as “inorganic” and claimed that they were “paid for.” She also alleged that the marches were “promoted from abroad” by her political opponents.

Her administration insists that online bots and right-wing groups amplified the movement to destabilize her government. For now, Sheinbaum has not signaled any major change in her security policy.

What comes next

The “Gen Z protests” have exposed deep frustrations with Mexico’s security crisis and governance failures. They reflect a new determination among both young and older citizens to demand accountability from the state.

Whether this wave of anger turns into a sustained political movement will depend on how the government responds. If more incidents of violence follow, the protests could reignite quickly and challenge Sheinbaum’s authority at a crucial stage of her presidency.

For now, Mexico’s youth have made one message clear: they will no longer stay silent about crime, corruption, and impunity.