A protest in Mexico City on Saturday resulted in injuries to over 100 police officers and at least 20 arrests. The protests, led largely by young Gen-Zers, were aimed at addressing corruption and safety concerns.
Thousands of protesters swarmed Mexico City Saturday, attacking police officers and attempting to breach a security barrier around the National Palace, which houses the federal government’s executive branch.
Plumes of tear gas filled the street as hooded protesters dragged riot police out of formation, beat them with hammers and chains and threw explosive devices at them, as they were stripped of their shields and communication radios.
The Secretariat of Citizen Security of Mexico City announced via social media that at least 60 police officers had minor injuries, and 40 officers were taken to hospitals.
The anti-government sentiment has been brewing, and the protest is thought to have been spurred by the recent assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
Manzo was shot seven times after condemning Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for her alleged lack of effort in combating cartels.
“We need greater determination from the president of Mexico,” Manzo told local media in September. “I do not want to be just another mayor on the list of those who have been executed and had their lives taken away from them. … I am very afraid, but I must face it with courage.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024 as Mexico’s first female president, recently came under fire after a series of high-profile murders.
Critics accuse her of tolerating organized crime and failing to support anti-cartel efforts.
In May, Sheinbaum publicly confirmed she rejected U.S. military assistance from President Donald Trump, who was looking to help the country fight drug trafficking and violent cartels.
Our former Townhall colleague, independent journalist Julio Rosas, was on scene, documenting Saturday’s unrest and sharing video to his X feed.
🚨Brutal clash between riot police and anti-Sheinbaum crowd in Mexico City.
Some in the crowd appeared to have swarmed and knocked out an officer. Police rushed in and one protester was then beaten by police, kicked multiple times in the head. pic.twitter.com/t4L6AQvuBk
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 15, 2025
The anti-Sheinbaum crowd in Mexico City continues to attempt to tear down the security wall protecting the National Palace. Mexican police are deploying CS powder and flashbangs. pic.twitter.com/Nx8NEDaP55
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 15, 2025
Rosas has more about Manzos’ assassination and the protests it has sparked on his Substack.
As mayor of Michoacán’s second largest city, Manzo was celebrating Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead, over the weekend with his family when he was shot by a lone gunman. The attack was successful and Manzo died, despite having policemen guarding him at the time of the shooting. The gunman was quickly killed.
Manzo’s murder has enraged Mexicans. His killing is another in a long list of politicians, activists, and journalists who had spoken out against the cartels. Manzo was a heavy critic of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for not doing enough to directly confront the various cartels. Riots and protests have broken out in Michoacán since Manzo’s death. City halls in Morelia, the state capital, and Apatzingán were attacked and stormed by angry crowds, calling for the removal of the ruling Morena party.
READ MORE: US Plans Covert Action Against Cartels in Mexico As the Government Seems Timid and Inept in Fighting Them
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Per Pablo Vázquez, Secretary of Citizen Security of Mexico City, approximately 120 people were injured during Saturday’s protests, with 100 of those being police officers.
On his X account on Sunday, Vázquez gave an update regarding the status of the injured:
Thankfully, it sounds as though none of the injuries sustained in Saturday’s violence are life-threatening.
But it also sounds as though this likely isn’t the end of unrest in response to Sheinbaum’s government.
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